Even though the Constitution mentions religion only twice – once about NOT taking a religious test to hold office and once about the government NOT favoring one religion over any others – our history clearly shows a religious bias towards Protestants. In recent years, that bias has shifted away from Mainline Protestants – too woke, you know – towards Evangelical Protestants. In some colonies you had to be a property-owning white man who belonged to the local Congregational Church. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (where I reside) was created, in part, as a haven for those who did not fit into the above description, especially Quakers. This provided a level of protection for people who were being abused by others who believed them to not be Christians.
In a recent act by the Department of Defense, the list of recognized religions for people in the armed forces was winnowed from 220 to 31, and the backlash has been impressive. Sec. Hegseth, a very public member of a fringe Evangelical church that promotes taking the vote away from women (among other things), has publicly supported evangelizing service men and women. The co-founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, whose client base in 95% Christian, said that this move is a “middle finger to the United States Constitution’s separation of church and state.” No matter what religion you practice, he said, you will get a plaque on your grave; you can’t, however, get your religion on your dog tag – unless it fits into the 31 approved denominations.
It is one more sign that support of the Constitution is being eroded by this administration. And while there has always been religious bias against one group or another, it has never been officially sanctioned. I have no doubt that this will be overturned in the courts; meanwhile, people who do not fit into Hegseth’s definition of “real” religion will go without spiritual care while they serve our country. Having a chaplain available when one is facing the prospect of having to kill someone is an important source of support; Sec. Hegseth seems to believe that he knows who deserves that support and who doesn’t. The right to choose whether or not to practice the religion of one’s choice is the First Amendment, and attacking it in this way is, I think, a first step towards attacking the entire document. If that happens, Democracy will crumble.
Prayer – Holy God, save us from fake religions and false prophets who would take Your name in vain. Amen.