The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. The current crop of religious bigots that fill the airwaves and our tv screens, however, equate the word "religion" with Christianity. This idea, if allowed to grow and fester, will endanger every religious and non-religious person in the country. Narrow vision is not what will help the nation. We see the corruption that is permeating the nation's religious institutions. Catholic priests are telling their congregation in Washington State to sign petitions to put gay marriage on the ballot in November. Other pastors and religious are telling their congregations how to vote. They hold rallies in places around the country to "pray" for the country, but only to ask that God turn the country into what they think is proper. How do they know what God wants for America? What message in the gospels is there about the United States? The truth is, that religion has a very important role to play in society, but partisan politics, which in and of itself is of highly questionable value, is not the place for church action. Is not the message of the gospel one of loving one's neighbor, taking care of the poor, visiting the sick, and taking care of their own spiritual development? A saintly man once said that we should be concerned with our own deficiencies rather than the faults of others. After all, he said, we all have faults and failings enough to keep us busy. We don't have time to be concerned with the failings of others. This, is the essence of what we should take into the church. Jesus said nothing about gays or abortion. If they believe that abortion is bad, they should not have an abortion. If they believe that it's bad to be gay, then don't have same sex relationships. But their religious based beliefs are not appropriate for non-believers.
I am reminded of a passage in "Reading Lolita in Teheran" when the writer's mother objected to the laws requiring the use of the hijab (body covering scarf) by the revolutionary authorities in Iran. She had always been religious and had always followed the rules on head covering; but she had done so as an expression of her devotion to God, not because it was legally required. When religious expression is governed by law, it becomes meaningless. Rather than a sign of religious devotion and piety, it becomes an onerous form of oppression.