A MAGAZINE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM THE KILLING TIME OH, COLUMBUS! THE POWER TO CHANGE

TEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 EDITORIAL

am writing this editorial while tionaries. Then during War II the castle were the ongoing dynamic of that old on vacation in France. More became the regional headquarters world. After all the ideas that created specifically it was written in the for the occupying Germans. When the United States were the same ones guest room of the chateau my wife they were expelled the Americans that led to the French revolution. It discovered on the Internet. The also made it their headquarters. All was not really so odd that Jefferson A MATTER pictures posted there did not do it half are gone now and little but the rutted had an enduring sympathy for the the justice that reality confers. I am stone flooring reminds of those times French Revolution, even after it turned OF HISTORY sitting under a high arched ceiling and of trial. on itself. looking out over computer keyboard, At breakfast we shared an There is an aspect of this dual through the high windows with the interesting discussion with a group and parallel tracking that is often inward facing shutters, and out over of Anglican priests also staying in the unremarked, even by my fellow the moat, with its lily pond surface to castle. As we went over the history of Seventh-day Adventists, who founded the deep woods that encroach on two the castle and came again to the story this magazine as a direct consequence sides of the castle. of its passage through the French of radical moves toward religious We are staying two nights here Revolution the elder priest remarked legislation in the first few years of in this time warp only a few minutes on how it was unusual for the original the twentieth century. The reality is south of Dijon in Burgundy. Yesterday, furniture to have survived those times. that the same pressures were creating "Give us a fair field after we arrived and met the count "There are two reasons given," he fissures in the public life in the Old and no favor, whose family has owned the property said." The first is that the count was a Country—England, the Mother and our faith has since the 1200s, a friend of his who is benevolent landlord and his pheasants Country, that as late as 1812 had still no cause to fear." a history professor took us on a tour of remained loyal. The second and more not accepted that her American child the many rooms. It is still elegant and probable is that he was a mason had left home. full of art and furniture from centuries and had protection." An interesting The wonderful work of William past. There are countless little oddities observation from a churchman, who of Wilberforce in outlawing slavery in the like the apparent wooden confessional course knew his history. In revolution- British Empire was of course just one boxes in the first and second floor ary France there was hatred against outgrowth of morals-based legislation chambers of the master and mistress the overbearing aristocracy and the from an increasingly empowered of the house that were in reality church, which the peasantry had come religious faction, which had high aims connecting staircases so they could to associate with their abuses; because for spiritually renewing old England. visit unobserved by staff, and the church and state/aristocracy func- Well, as we know today, it is an easy clever arrangement of the eldest son's tioned as an intertwined power elite. step from that to using the power of bedroom at the end of the hall after For the revolutionaries it was enough the state to require revival. the fathers room, so that he could not that the church hated and persecuted One of the most dynamic preach- pass easily unobserved in the night. the masons—therefore they must ers in England a century ago was Of course time has never stood be acceptable. I have always thought Charles Haddon Spurgeon; known as still here or anywhere else. The history that the same simple logic accounts "the prince of preachers"for his amaz- teacher told us how the drawbridge for much of the pervasive masonry in ing rhetoric and ability to draw huge had been replaced by a fixed bridge early Protestant America—that is, if crowds. I recently read a statement hundreds of years ago on the orders the Catholic Church was so opposed to of his that relates all too well to the of the King of France who feared the masonry, it must be acceptable. United States then—and now—as nobles' ability to resist his power. She In many ways the old world is not well as to the England of his day. told how during the French Revolution really that different from the new "I am ashamed of some Christians," sympathetic pheasants helped hide world—only older. In fact as the preached Spurgeon, "because they the castle's furniture from the revolu- new world rose to prominence it did have so much dependence on parlia- so with many of the ideas brought ment and the law of the land. Much from the old world—albeit ideas that

2 LIBERTY• SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009

1ooTRu.st Wt 40, s

4RTERDO'\' IN THIS ISSUE There is a general consen- sus that pluralism doesn't work without civility, and a grudging admission that yes, organized religion has at times singled out unpopular minorities. I P24

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY THE KILLING TIME THE AMERICAN 20 1 OH COLUMBUS! REDEFINED 10 SENTINEL 4 14 24 1 THE POWER TO CHANGE A 1941 retrospective. Remembering those who sacrificed and the Crusade to Nationalize >> to keep church and state apart Christianity 29 1 GOOD CITIZENS

good may Parliament ever do to true debate and the church response to than to quote from James Madison, religion except by mistake. As to the newfound rights of the gay com- a founding father of the American DEC', RATION getting the law of the land to touch munity. This issue of Liberty speaks Republic, author of the Bill of Rights our religion, we earnestly cry, "Hands to that in an opinion piece. No matter which include the First Amendment 7.104 how doctrinally or morally offensive freedom of religion and restraint on off! Leave us alone."Your Sunday bills The God-given right of religious liberty is best the church may find society to have state sponsorship, and the nation's and all other forms of the act-of- exercised when church and state are separate. Parliament religion seem to me to be become it is entering perilous ground fourth president. "Who does not see," all wrong. Give us a fair field and no in attempting to address it by legisla- he wrote, "that the same authority Government is God's agency to protect indi- favor, and our faith has no cause to tion. And yet at the same time the which can establish Christianity, in vidual rights and to conduct civil affairs; in fear. Christ wants no help from Caesar:' church is within its compass to press exclusion of all other religions, may exercising these responsibilities, officials are As you will read in a series begin- the state to honor it's faith profession establish with the same ease any par- entitled to respect and cooperation. ning in this issue of Liberty, a national and ability to speak to others of moral ticular sect of Christians, in exclusion Religious liberty entails freedom of Sunday bill and Christian nation absolutes. May we keep this dynamic of all other sects?" conscience: to worship or not to worship; to assumptions had everything to do alive and well and avoid the mistakes How revolutionary! profess, practice, and promulgate religious with the founding of our magazine. of the old world—mistakes that led beliefs, or to change them. In exercising We agree with Spurgeon that such not just to reformation but revolution. these rights, however, one must respect have no place in a country that truly Because the unholy union of church the equivalent rights of all others. honors religious freedom. and state ultimately is bad for both. Attempts to unite church and state are In a very real way that sense of After quoting from an English Lincoln E. Steed, Editor opposed to the interests of each, subversive true religious independence of separa- Baptist preacher, I had better end on Liberty Magazine of human rights, and potentially persecuting tion of church and state speaks even a more American note. What better in character; to oppose union, lawfully and to the more contentious of church Please address letters to the editor to honorably, is not only the citizen's duty but state issues today—the gay marriage [email protected] the essence of the golden rule—to treat others as one wishes to be treated.

(OVER BY HARRY ANDERSON 0 REVIEW & HERALD PUB. ASSN.

LIBERTY• SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 3 HOW IT WAS IN 1941. . . Religious Liberty {Redefined}

BY GIDEON D. HAGSTOTZ ILLUSTRATION BY HARRY ANDERSON

hat is liberty? It is that life without liberty is worse than death. But freedom from undue he was speaking merely of civil liberty. It must restraint; it is the sum of be remembered that religious liberty means the rights and immunities even more than civil liberty. Moreover, religious of all the citizens of an orga- liberty is not synonymous with freedom of con- nized civil community, with science. One's conscience is always free—it is provision for guaranteed pro- unfettered regardless of external conditions. tection against interference Liberty implies a state of affairs in which a with their civil, political, per- member of a state or society is permitted to fol- sonal, and religious activities. low without interference the dictates of his con- What pictures the word "liberty" science in the profession of any religious creed conjures up! It brings to mind opened prisons, or the exercise of any mode of worship. But removed shackles, restored privileges, granted when one's conscience points the way to overt pardons, reunited families, and reestablished acts contrary to certain accepted ideas, then one respect. is faced squarely with the problem of religious One marvels at the devotion of those who liberty, and not freedom of conscience. have given their lives for the principles of liberty. The pages of secular and ecclesiastical history The Question of Toleration contain many names of those crusaders who, like Nor is it fair to compare the question of reli- the apostle Paul, could say, "Neither count I my gious liberty with the question of toleration. life dear unto myself," and who offered them- Religious liberty affirms the existence of a state of selves with a ceaseless devotion, that the way of equality for all, whereas toleration implies that others might be more secure. men are not all equal. Many times one hears the plea for tolerance, which, as has been stated before, Liberty and Conscience implies inequality. What one should strive for is There is a saying that liberty in itself is of the development of a sense of fair play for all. little value. That is doubtless true, but one must Religious liberty is more than a circumscribed also remember that all else without liberty is of opinion born in the minds of the leaders of lesser no profit. When Patrick Henry voiced the words groups as against intrenched or vested interests of "Give me liberty, or give me death," he meant any ecclesiastical organizations. Religious liberty

4 LIBERTY• SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 is an inherent right and privilege of citizenship entirely divorced from any given church affiliation. The core of religious lib- erty must be sought for in two specifications, said Sanford H. Cobb, in his Rise of Religious Liberty in America, page 9, "in its origination in the will of God as Maker of the human soul, and in its relation to the civil law." Thomas Paine, who is cited so often as an avowed enemy of those who believe in God, and even of God Himself, said, back in 1776 in an open letter to the Quakers, "As to religion, I hold it to be the indispens- able duty of all governments to protect all conscientious professors thereof, and I know of no other business which governments hath to do therewith."— Quoted by Luigi Luzzatti, in God in Freedom, p. 686. All true advocates of liberty as a prin- ciple, and of religious liberty in particular, will agree with this assumption. The adherence to the postulate expressed by Thomas Paine assures all adherents to a given creed or creeds protection in religious children, or activities on the same basis as that accorded the uninformed, many to all citizens in the pursuit of their secular have accepted the idea that liberty, activities. taken in the abstract or in direct relation to rights of citizenship, is a fixed reality. What is Dangerous Trends Threatening Liberties often forgotten, or possibly not even known, The words "Congress shall make no law is that America, though still doubtless the respecting an establishment of religion, or home of the brave, is not necessarily the land prohibiting the free exercise thereof" have of the free; and that the liberty we all claim to often fallen glibly from the lips of American prize so highly has, in many instances and in citizens. This statement has also been cited various localities, been, in part at least, repeatedly in various settings until it has removed from the land. become commonplace. With the credulity of During the 150 years which measure the

LIBERTY• SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 5 Fifty Jewish refugee children, between ages 5 and 16, arrive in New York from Hamburg, Germany, on the liner President Harding on June 3, 1939. (AP Photo)

existence of constitutional America, repeated have certain rights and privileges, we should efforts have been made to favor certain groups likewise be willing to uphold these privileges as against others until it is a matter well under- and rights as citizens as well as Christians. stood by many that there has developed a state In substantiation of this assertion the words of pronounced retrogression in the matter of of Thomas Francis Bayard, secretary of state religious independence. This degeneracy of during President Cleveland's first administra- religious liberty has reached such proportions tion, as found in Volume IV of the International that there is hardly a state left in the Federal Law Digest, are herewith quoted: "Religious lib- Union which has not been attacked with reli- erty is the chief cornerstone of the American gious bills purporting to promote the welfare system of government, and provisions for its of the commonwealth. security are embedded in the written charter There is always a danger of considering the and interwoven in the moral fabrics of its laws. problem of religious liberty too much from Anything that tends to invade a right so essen- the angle of one church, and that the church tial and sacred must be carefully guarded to which we happen to belong. Let us not for- against, and I am satisfied that my countrymen, get that the subject of religious liberty must be ever mindful of the sufferings and sacrifices placed squarely on the proposition that the necessary to obtain it, will never consent to its curtailment or regulation of anyone's inner- impairment for any reason or under any pretext most beliefs—be he Catholic or Protestant, whatsoever."—Quoted by Luzzatti, in God in Jew or Gentile, atheist or Seventh-day Freedom, p. 674. Adventist—with their resultant acts, is a direct Mr. Bayard's statement constitutes a chal- attack upon part of the American system of lenge which all church members ought to be government. And as we grant that the princi- willing to face and meet courageously. Do we ple of religious liberty assumes that all people think that because we have walked a compara-

6 LIBERTY• SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 tively serene path, it will be always so? Are we Too few of our citizens fully appreciate the willing to give a ready ear and effective aid to the accomplishment achieved by our forebears in cause of religious liberty, or do we feel as did establishing in America the principle of reli- Hezekiah when he selfishly remarked, "Is it not gious liberty. Too few remember that it was on good, if peace and truth be in my days?" this continent that "the doctrine of the liberty Some, in their zeal to promote unrestricted of conscience, the equality of opinions before religious freedom, have advocated full separation the law," met its first full fruition. Too few rec- of religious and political life. This should not be; ognize how much religious liberty has contrib- for, in many instances, it has been the religious uted to the sum of human endeavor. Said David influences working through public officials Dudley Field (1805-1894), eminent jurist and which have brought amelioration to existing authority in international law in the American deplorable conditions. Such alleviation has been Law Review, volume 27, page 645: "The greatest noted in the much-needed social legislation of achievement ever made in the cause of human the present and the previous century. It is the progress is the total and final separation of spiritual element of the churches which led to the church and state. If we had nothing else to boast progressive work in this field. Through the cen- of, we could claim with justice that first among turies the churches have been morally active in nations, we of this country made it an article of local, state, and national affairs. When one organic law that the relations between man and makes the oft-repeated statement that politics are his Maker were a private concern, into which not clean, it is to be remembered that without the other men had no right to intrude."—Quoted by ever-leavening influence of Christian men and Luzzatti, in God in Freedom, pp. 673, 674. women the condition in the field of politics This quotation does not mean to imply that would be infinitely more deplorable. The danger the principle of religious liberty was created by to religious liberty does not lie in Christian the legislative minds of America, but it does influences affecting the lives of officials in pub- affirm, as Mr. Cobb, who has been quoted previ- lic positions; the danger point is reached when ously, said, that "the spirit that guided the work of the state, or a church, or a group of individuals, the founders of our government was not one that tries to bring political pressure to aid in the was crushed and screwed into sectarian molds by propagation of religious creeds. the decrees of intolerant councils, and by the sub- tleties of ingenious priests; it recognizes the value Danger Ahead? of every creed, but rises above them all. The grand Probably Americans generally believe there and noble purpose was to establish justice, pro- is no real danger of religious bigotry and perse- mote the general welfare, and secure the blessings cution's ever finding root in our soil. Doubtless of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. This is many would subscribe to the idea once expressed the lesson of the development of civil as well as by Lord Bryce in a moment of wishful thinking, religious liberty in the United States."—Rise of who, in speaking of America, said, "In no imag- Religious Liberty in America, p. 270. inable future is there likely to be any attempt to Many of those who were pioneers for the repress either by law or opinion the free exercise cause of religious liberty in America doubtless of speculative thought on morals, on religion, worked without fully recognizing the signifi- and, indeed, in every matter not within the cance of their task. But whether they under- immediate range of politics."—Quoted by stood and appreciated the full significance of Dieffenbach, in Religious Liberty, p. 138. all they were doing, we who can look back upon It is seldom that one finds Lord Bryce so far the blessings of a century and a half of liberty afield from actuality. When he remains within must acknowledge that more than human wis- the province of historical writing there is no one dom must have been vouchsafed to those who more worthy than he to be called an authority; sat in the Constitutional Convention as they but when he leaves the historical field to explore formulated the charter which was to guide the future conditions or possibilities, he misses his destinies of the infant nation. calling. During the approximately five decades With liberties, especially religious liberty, since Lord Bryce voiced this conjecture, the situ- being taken from men the world around, ation has greatly changed: rights of religionists Americans should reverently pledge anew in many states have been ignored, local legisla- wholehearted loyalty to the principles that have tion or ordinances have come into existence, and made this nation great. efforts have repeatedly been made to formulate Taken from an article published in Liberty magazine, January 1941. It was a time and enact legislation of a religious nature on a of great stress, and significant that Liberty should so restate its fundamental prin- national and even an international scale. ciples. Gideon D. Hagstotz was a professor of history at Union College, Nebraska.

LIBERTY• SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 7 PUBLIC MORAL! Y

n a pluralistic society a

fundamental assumption

Iof public policy is the recognition that everything immoral need not be declared illegal. The public morality that is expressed in law reflects a consensus derived from public debate.... Social realities as well as religious principles must be taken into account in judging the wisdom of any legislation. Citizens who come to different conclusions are not necessarily immoral or unchristian. The tendency to so brand one's political opponents suggests a kind of moral fascism.

—An editorial, September 13, 1980, in America.

8 LIBERTY® SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2 009 LIBERTY® SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 9 r~''' ~ r ', ~: T'ak ^r' ,F

. o.,a h"~"h:: BY CELESTE PERRINO-WALKER ILLUSTRATION BY KINUKO Y. CRAFT

ometimes it's an indignant murmur, IV" sometimes it's an angry tirade, but Oat lately you hear it louder and louder. "America is taking God out of everything, and we wonder why our nation is experiencing so many problems,"' posted someone identified as "T" to the Amboy Times in response to a blurb about the removal of "In God We Trust" from coins. Brenda Pena concurred. "I would rather have In God We Trust on our coins than any President's portrait. We have already taken God out of too many things in this country!"2 But the issue could just as easily be government-sponsored prayer in schools, displaying the Ten Commandments on govern- could be spiritual head of a Christian church. This ment institutions, or even swearing on the Bible was the nub of the entire Covenanting struggle." 4 in court or dispute over the phrase "under God" And struggle it became. A struggle so bloody in the Pledge of Allegiance. that 25 years of it were known as "The Killing Regardless, at the heart of all such disagree- Time," a time during which men, women, and ments is the issue of separation of church and state, children could be shot on the spot for refusing to an issue that some do not seem to fully grasp and say "God save the king." some do not agree with. But the most obvious ques- tion, surely, is Why do we want the government's Church Is State fingers in our religious pie? And the answer, quite hough Wilson and his wife were obedient simply, is that we are far enough removed to forget to the state in matters of religion, the beliefs what the government does to religious pie. We have of their children condemned them in the forgotten the terrible sacrifices many people have eyest of the king and they were forbidden to have made in the name of religious freedom. anything to do with their own children, who were And we would do well to remember. forced to flee to the "mosses, mountains, and caves of Carrick, Nithsdale, and Galloway" 5 for One of Two Margarets their own safety, though even their absence did hat, for example, would Margaret not protect their parents. Despite their compli- its Wilson of Wigton, Scotland, tell us ance they were fined for the nonconformity of about government-mandated reli- their children and were reduced from compara- gion? Margaret, 18, was the eldest of three chil- tive prosperity to destitution. dren (Thomas, 16, and Agnes, 13) and the Following the death of Charles II the persecu- daughter of Gilbert Wilson, a farmer in the sev- tion let up for a short time and the girls decided to enteenth century during a time when the king risk a secretive visit to Wigton to visit some like- (in this case Charles II) believed himself to be minded sufferers in the cause, particularly their the supreme ruler of the church and the state by elderly friend Margaret McLauchlan. They were divine right "by virtue of his royal prerogative promptly betrayed by a man named Patrick and supremacy in causes ecclesiastical.."3 While Stuart, who requested that they drink the king's Wilson and his wife gave the government no health. The girls politely declined and he turned

10 a rOttaiLI wouldpersonally love to buildings, "In God e Trust" on our coins, prayer in school every whatever I "gained" in that area I'd "lose" in religious freedom, and

cause for concern, being conformists to the state- them in, either for satisfaction or monetary gain. mandated religion (Episcopacy), their children Both Margaret and Agnes were thrown into were another story. Young Margaret became prison where, after a mockery of a trial, they were attracted to the teachings of the Covenanters and condemned to die. While they were not guilty of her brother and sister followed her. any of the trumped-up charges against them they "Simply stated, the Covenanters were those were guilty of refusing to swear the abjuration people in Scotland who signed the National oath. "Many who could not be charged with the Covenant in 1638. They signed this covenant to breach of any law were asked if they owned the confirm their opposition to the interference by king's authority. If they disowned it, they stood the Stuart kings in the affairs of the Presbyterian self-condemned; if they qualified their submis- Church of Scotland. sion by distinguishing between church and state, "The Stuart kings harboured the belief of the or if they declined to give their opinion, they were Divine Right of the Monarch. Not only did they deemed equally guilty of treason." 6 believe that God wished them to be the infallible Gilbert Wilson, upon hearing his daughters rulers of their kingdom—they also believed that were condemned to die, sold and borrowed what they were the spiritual heads of the Church of he could, managing to raise 100 pounds. He rode Scotland. This latter belief could not be accepted to Edinburgh hoping to purchase his daughters' by the Scots. No man, not even a king, could be freedom. He was allowed to save only one, and spiritual head of their church. Only Jesus Christ he chose Agnes, the youngest. In the meantime,

12 LIBERTY' SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 Margaret Wilson's friends did everything in "Readers of the tragic story may thus be their power to save her by trying to cajole her assured that the refusal of firm Covenanters to say into swearing the abjuration oath or making a `God save the king' was not the result of any lack promise to start attending the government-spon- of true civil loyalty to 'the powers that be that are sored church, but she refused to alter her course ordained of God,' but solely the result of an through compromise no matter what the cost. enlightened conscience which refused to give to man, no matter how highly exalted in office he The Solway Martyrs might be, the honor due to the Lord's Anointed. n May 11, 1685, though reprieve had been When such persons as the Solway martyrs ['the requested for His Majesty's pardon and was two Margarets'] refused to say 'God save the king,' Oexpected to come in some form—if not a it was because of the meaning given to the expres- pardon perhaps a lighter sentence—the two sion by men in authority. Its use was tantamount Margarets were led from their prison by Major to confessing that the king was supreme earthly Windram and a company of soldiers to where the ruler in the Church of God. The Covenanters Blade River meets the sea (an arm of the Solway chose death rather than life when impaled on the Firth) and led out to the wide sands that are cov- horns of the dreadful dilemma."12 ered twice a day by the tide. There they were tied to stakes in the sand to await drowning by the tide. Full Circle The elder Margaret was tied farther out so her s a Christian I would personally love to young companion might watch her slow death see the Ten Commandments on our gov- and—they hoped—be frightened into a change of Iternment buildings, "In God We Trust" conscience. But Margaret refused to be moved. on our coins, prayer in school every morning. I'd While her friend struggled, drowning, a heartless love to know that public school teachers could bystander asked her what she thought of the sight. openly share their faith as part of their job. The "What do I see," she answered, "but Christ, in trouble is that I know whatever I "gained" in that one of His members, wrestling there? Think you area I'd "lose" in religious freedom, and religious that we are the sufferers? No, it is Christ in us; for freedom is what this country is all about. He sends none a warfare upon their own charges."' What I can do, as a Christian, is to accept that As the water rose around her, Margaret calmly spreading the gospel is not the government's job. see the Ten Commandments on our government morning. . . . The trouble is that I know religious freedom is what this country is all about.

recited Scripture until the water began to creep It's mine. And I, as a private citizen and not a gov- over her face and she began to drown. Rather than ernment employee or institution, have the right let her go, the soldiers loosened her cords and lifted and the responsibility to share my faith in endless her out of the water to revive her. Major Windram ways. Because of people like Margaret Wilson ordered that as soon as she recovered enough to who braced their backs against the wall of separa- speak she be asked to pray for the king. Margaret tion of church and state I can be grateful that the replied, "I wish the salvation of all men, and the government has no say in religion and I can do damnation of none."' With her friends imploring whatever is in my power to keep it that way. her to save her life and "say, God save the king! say, God save the king!" 9 she responded, "God save Celeste Perrino-Walker writes from Rutland, Vermont. him, if He will, for it is his salvation I desire."1° http://amboytimes.typepad.com/the_amboy_times/2006/11/in_god_we_ trust.html But this response didn't satisfy the soldiers 2 Ibid. who demanded again that she swear the abjura- www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?cov_intro.htm www.covenanter.org.uk/WhoWere/ tion oath. Having just been brought back from www.applesofgold.co.uk/the_two_margarets.htm nearly drowning and knowing where her answer www.ianpaisley.orgiarticle.asp?cov_intro.htm www.applesofgold.co.uk/the_two_margarets.htm would lead, Margaret responded, "I will not; I Ibid. am one of Christ's children; let me go." At Ibid. Windram's orders she was put back into the 11/bid. water, and she drowned. 12 www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?cov_intro.htm

LIBERTY® SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 13

ONE ERICAN SENTINEL AND THE CRUSAIN NATIONALIZ RISTIANIT By Douglas Wilcox-gala

he trouble with the logical conviction that the endeavor to American Sentinel, wrote make the American Republic an Rev. W. T. McConnell in 1887, was that agency of divine redemption would it seemed "determined to oppose ultimately bring disaster instead. the progress of this nation in fulfill- With only about 26,000 members, ing its vocation as an instrument in and in a hurry to take to the world its the divine work of regenerating message of a faith radically reformed for human society." The rebuke to the latter days, the church demon- Liberty magazine's predecessor from strated the strength of that conviction the Youngstown, Ohio, preacher was about the dangers of the "Christian on target. Then in its second year amendment" movement by launching, in of publication, the Sentinel's preoccupation from 1886, a monthly periodical, the American the beginning had indeed been resisting the Sentinel, to spread the warning message. Its edi- project of the organization in which McConnell tor, Joseph H. Waggoner, and his associates Ellet held office—the National Reform Association— J. Waggoner and Alonzo T. Jones were based in for realization of America's divine destiny. More Oakland, California, at the denomination's specifically, that project was to formalize, with a Pacific Press Publishing Association.2 constitutional amendment, the United States' Zeal for nothing less than bringing in the identity as a "Christian nation." And, at the heart reign of Christ drove both the Adventists and the of what motivated the small Seventh-day "Christian nation" reformers. The movement for Adventist denomination to extraordinary a constitutional amendment acknowledging the lengths in a campaign of resistance was a theo- sovereignty of Christ over the nation originated

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"•••,. s",, .... r . ' 4 # i \ - : "7„'"15 4,,,,:! : • % : C ) rt'' :7/ - . : , ': 4 ,j ,ki ; • I; i'I. ( • •,,, A 1 -" ' I • .. . 11' ' .!' , ' . r 18 %. k i . f '.• ;';"1.. ' t'V1I '4&,.,:. ' • i r ' .. 4' #. 441 I • t t 1 t ' , ."•. N , 4 r • . I f; 2009 R ME STEA D OUGAL C Joseph H. Waggoner joined the fledgling Adventist movement. It was not till 1863 that Seventh- day Adventists became organized officially as a religious denomination.

during the Civil War among Presbyterians draw- kept as separate as possible, leaving them with ing on the Scottish Covenanter heritage. The maximum freedom to make their minority voice nation, just as the individual Christian, owed alle- heard. Not only that, they believed enlistment of giance to Christ as "King of kings," according to state coercion in the cause of the church to be the Covenanter theology. However, the National fundamental failing of Christian history, one Reform Association also included prominent that would lead to the final rebellion in human clergy of many leading denominations. And, it history against God's noncoercive government' found allies in several other reform organizations Accordingly, as the Christian lobby gained dedicated to extending Christ's rulership over a momentum in the mid-1880s, the Adventists nation whose moral order was under siege.' launched the American Sentinel as an eight-page Among the most prominent of these was the monthly "devoted to the defense of American Woman's Christian Temperance Union, whose institutions, the preservation of the United States leader, Frances Willard, declared in 1887 the orga- Constitution as it is, so far as regards religion or nization's "one all-absorbing purpose" to be "that religious tests, and the maintenance of human Christ shall be this world's king." 4 rights, both civil and religious." 8 The general ethos shared by the leading The editors and their Adventist colleagues Protestant denominations remained the domi- became relentless watchdogs against the National nant moral influence in late nineteenth-century Reform Association and its allies—not only writ- America. But manifold and rapidly accelerating ing and publishing but countering the organiza- dangers threatened that dominance—the crime, tion's every move by traveling to, holding meet- vice, and poverty rampant in overcrowded cities, ings, and distributing literature wherever the the huge influx of immigrants boosting the power organization held major gatherings or introduced base of Roman Catholicism, the influence of secu- legislation. Since the endeavor to enlist the aid of lar values in the universities and the large corpo- federal government was the stand-out objective of rations that held sway over the new industrial the Christian lobby, the Adventist challenge economy.' In response, the "Christian nation" would lead to a major conflict in the halls of advocates, or the "Christian lobby," to borrow a Congress during 1888 and 1889. But before telling label from historian Gaines Foster, sought to that story, we must step back and take a closer advance the reign of Christ over the nation by look at these Adventist progenitors of today's means of legislation—more precisely, federal leg- Liberty magazine, and what propelled them. islation. While a constitutional amendment Joseph H. Waggoner (1820-1889), the remained central to their program, the Christian Sentinel's first editor, had been a small-town lobbyists did not wait for its passage to push for newspaper editor in Wisconsin when he cast his other legislation on behalf of numerous aspects of lot with Seventh-day Adventism in 1852.9 The moral behavior, most notably sobriety and movement was in its earliest stage—so early Sabbath observance.6 that a decade or so was yet to elapse before it had Likewise finding their "all-absorbing pur- a formal name (1860) and became officially orga- pose" in preparing the way for the coming king- nized as a denomination (1863).1' dom of Christ, the Adventists believed that the The founders of the movement with which Lord Himself was soon to bring it about with a Waggoner connected had been part of the cataclysmic destruction of the present order of Millerite revival, which led scores of thousands things and establishment of a new heavens and to anticipate, on the basis of biblical prophecy, new earth free of suffering, sin, and death. In the the second coming of Jesus to take place in 1844. meantime, they wanted church and state to be When that did not occur, the eventual Seventh-day

16 LIBERTY• SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 Joseph H. Waggoner and W. C. White, son of Pacific Press® Publishing Association is established in the Adventist prophet Ellen G. White, were Oakland, California. As editor of it's flagship publication, among the 1,600 Californians arrested Signs of the Times, Joseph H. Waggoner would soon between March and June of 1882 for violating become embroiled in a major conflict in California politics. the Sunday law.

Adventists survived the "Great Disappointment" Soil party, but as an Adventist no longer invested with their belief in the soon second advent of faith in the nation's political system as the guar- Christ intact (though not setting dates), and antor of freedom. "The United States govern- combined with that other distinctive beliefs such ment is a great idol," he declared in 1858, a as observance of the Sabbath on the seventh day "union of democratic professions and slaveocratic of the week (Saturday), a divinely mandated practices," and thus "altogether unworthy of the practice that they believed had been neglected or adoration which it receives."12 "The United States corrupted for centuries in popular Christianity. After the Civil War, Waggoner helped lead Moreover, they believed this restoration of the Adventist cause in California, which became government is a biblical truth to be part of the progressive unfold- the denomination's second major center of oper- ing of events delineated by apocalyptic prophecy ations, paralleling the original headquarters in great idol, a 1111i011 in the book of Revelation. Specifically, it was the Battle Creek, Michigan. Though he denied being "third angel's message," calling out a people who a "politician" as he once had been as a partisan of de1110ffilik "keep the commandments of God, and the faith editor, Waggoner, as editor of the church's major of Jesus" (Rev. 14:12). Such commandment-keep- West Coast periodical, the Signs of the Times, in profession s and ing they understood to include observing the fact became embroiled in a major conflict in Sabbath on Saturday, as designated by the fourth California politics during the early 1880s. Sit/MO(1'e( practices, of the Ten Commandments, rather than on the The Adventist mission in California had Sunday of American Christendom. The giving of helped provoke a crisis over the state Sunday law and thus altogether this message, according to the prophecy, would during the 1870s." In 1882 the Republican Party, lead up to the second coming of Christ. which held the majority in the state legislature, unworthy of the But not without conflict. And here the early sought to bolster its support for the upcoming Seventh-day Adventists boldly identified the election by acceding to demands from conserva- adoration which United States as the last in a succession of worldly tive Protestant leaders for more rigorous enforce- empires, symbolized by ghoulish beasts in apoca- ment of the Sunday law passed in 1861. While it receives." lyptic prophecy, that tested the faithfulness of the saloon and theater owners and Jewish and people of God. Specifically, they identified the Chinese merchants threatened to turn Sunday I H. Waggoner, 1858 beast described in Revelation 13:11-18 as having into a day of secular commerce and recreation, two "lamblike" horns but speaking like a dragon the Adventists, in their public evangelism, were with the United States. Benevolent in appearance, aggressively attacking the Sunday law's religious its stated principles of liberty making it the best and legal foundations. government humanity ever produced—"time's Thus, Joseph H. Waggoner and W. C. White, noblest offspring"—the American Republic was son of the Adventist prophet Ellen G. White, nonetheless prone to betrayal of those principles were among the 1,600 Californians arrested in practice, and would ultimately become the final between March and June of 1882 for violating oppressor of those who put loyalty to God's com- the Sunday law. The Pacific Press Publishing mandments first." Company was shut down. Waggoner quickly became prominent in the With their eye on the increasing momentum movement and was one of several Adventist of the National Reform movement, it was just these writers who, in the 1850s, cited slavery as evi- sorts of developments unfolding in California— dence of the menacing reality behind America's only much more severe and on a national scale— image as a bulwark of liberty. He had been an that Adventists believed would characterize the anti-slavery Democrat until the Compromise of final crisis over God's law just before the return of 1850 prompted a switch to the short-lived Free Christ. With its coercive power marshaled on

LIBERTY' SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 17 Following a successful Democratic campaign The first issue of the American Sentinel rolled in the general election, California's state off the press in 1886 to counter the Christian Sunday law was repealed in 1883. lobby led by the National Reform Association. 401/.

behalf of a religious agenda, the repressive side of the law disadvantaged those who observed the American beast would overwhelm the another day or no day as Sabbath. It was "a direct Republic's putative principles of liberty and human infringement on our rights as citizens and rights and persecute dissenters. Christians," against which Adventists and others Rather than passively await the unfolding of affected had a right to defend themselves. Second, prophecy, Adventist action began running in the the Adventist mission to the world demanded Though they opposite direction in the 1880s. With the state public witness against laws premised on the finding it difficult to gain convictions of those sacrality of Sunday. Called to proclaim "the com- numbered only charged with Sunday law violations and the mandments of God and the faith of Jesus," they Democratic platform calling for repeal of the could not be silent while the fourth (Sabbath) a few hundred, law, Waggoner—decidedly Republican in his commandment was being "assailed, despised," political sympathies—appealed to the Republican and made "subordinate to human policy" in the California's convention in Sacramento to at least include an public arena through Sunday legislation.'6 exemption from the law for observers of a Thus, by the time the first issue of the Adventists exerted a Saturday Sabbath.14 American Sentinel rolled off the press in 1886 to When this failed, the Adventists threw their counter the Christian lobby led by the National disproportionate energies into a successful Democratic campaign Reform Association, Adventists had already in the general election, which in turn led to begun taking action for religious liberty and influence in bringing repeal of the state Sunday law in 1883. Though developing a rationale for doing so. And they did they numbered only a few hundred, California's so now at the urging of the church's most influen- the Sunday law to Adventists exerted a disproportionate influence tial voice, that of Ellen White, despite her earlier in bringing the Sunday law to the forefront of the misgivings." the forefront of the political scene and in the law's demise, which has In 1885, in a message entitled "The Impending thus far proven permanent. In the assessment of Conflict," 18 she replaced the logic of passivity in political scene and historian Sandra Sizer Frankiel, Adventists, in view of divine prophecy with the logic of action California's formative era, contributed to the consistent with the characteristics of the God the in the law's demise. state's rejection of "that bond with traditional Adventists believed in and the new world they Protestant culture" represented by Sunday laws, expected Him to bring about. Witness to the God "in favor of a more open and diverse society." 15 of liberty demanded action on behalf of liberty, What accounts for the Adventists' religiously even though they did not expect the cause of motivated foray into the political arena? Were liberty to triumph through human action. they themselves now violating the separation of "Let none sit in calm expectation of the evil, church and state? Would it not be more consistent comforting themselves with the belief that this for them simply to follow their own convictions work [of the National Reform movement] must and trust God to sustain them through the crisis go on because prophecy has foretold it, and they saw ahead and work things out in accordance that the Lord will shelter His people," she wrote. with His prophetic Word? Many early Adventists, "We are not doing the will of God if we sit in including pioneer and visionary Ellen White, quietude, doing nothing to preserve liberty of thought so—or at least wondered about it. conscience." Activism for liberty was intrinsic But J. H. Waggoner had two reasons for the and central to the message of "present truth" Signs of the Times' involvement in the political that the Adventists were commissioned to spread struggle over repeal of the Sunday law. The issue, throughout the world: in the first place, had to do with the basic right of "Let the watchmen now lift up their voice religious liberty. In mandating Sunday closings, and give the message which is present truth for

18 LIBERTY• SEPTEMBER /OCTOBER 2009 Joseph H. Waggoner died in 1889 while serving in Europe. The religious liberty cause would be taken up by his son Ellet J. Waggoner and Alonzo T. Jones.

Ellet J. Waggoner Alonzo T. Jones

this time. Let us show the people where we are in Joseph's son Ellet J. Waggoner and especially prophetic history and seek to arouse the spirit of Alonzo T. Jones—to lead the Adventists in the true Protestantism, awaking the world to a sense cause of religious liberty. It was a cause that would of the value of the privileges of religious liberty take them to Washington, D.C., and a showdown so long enjoyed." with the Christian lobby on Capitol Hill. Indeed, she wrote a year later, such activism was necessary if the Adventists themselves Douglas Morgan is professor of history and political studies at Washington wished, in the end, to show themselves to have Adventist University, Maryland. been on the Lord's side in the great, nonviolent 'Quoted in Alonzo T. Jones, The Two Republics or Rome and the United States of struggle against evil. America (Oakland: Pacific Press Publishing Co., 1891), p. 785. When the religion of Christ is most held in Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald contempt, when His law is most despised, then Publishing Association, 1966), vol. 2, p. 571. 3 On the National Reform Association and the Christian amendment movement, see should our zeal be the warmest and our courage Robert Handy, Undermined Establishment: Church-State Relations in America the most unflinching. To stand in defense of (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1991), pp. 25-27; Henry F. May, Protestant truth and righteousness when the majority for- Churches and Industrial America (New York: Harper & Row, 1963), pp. 42, 43; Daniel G. Reid et al., Dictionary of Christianity in America (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity sake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when Press, 1990), p.800; Dennis Pettibone, "Caesar's Sabbath: The Sunday-Law champions are few—this will be our test." 19 Controversy in the United States, 1879-1892" (Ph.D. dissertation, University of The emergence of the long tradition of advo- California, Riverside, 1979); Gary Scott Smith, The Seeds of Secularization: Calvinism, Culture, and Pluralism in America, 1870-1915 (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Christian cacy for religious liberty now represented by University Press, 1985), pp. 58-69. Liberty magazine can in part be attributed to the Gaines M. Foster, Moral Reconstruction: Christian Lobbyists and the Federal Adventists' pragmatic defense of their own rights Legislation of Morality, 1865-1920 (Chapel Hill, N. C.: University of North Carolina Press, 2002), p. 87. as a religious minority, adhering to practices that 5 For an overview of these developments see George M. Marsden, Religion and set them sharply apart from the dominant cul- American Culture (Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1990), pp. 96-130. ture. But the zeal, energy, resourcefulness, and 6 Foster, pp. 2-6. 'Douglas Morgan, Adventism and the American Republic: The Public Involvement of a Major tirelessness of that advocacy cannot be satisfac- Apocalyptic Movement (Nashville: University of Tennessee Press, 2001), pp. 11-44. torily accounted for without recognition of their 8 American Sentinel, January 1886, p. 7. deep convictions about where history was headed Woodrow W. Whidden II, E I. Waggoner: From the Physician of Good News to Agent of Division (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2008), pp. 20, 21. and their apocalyptic role in bearing witness 10 For an overview of the origins of Seventh-day Adventism and the movement's against efforts to make the United States a jug- beliefs, see George R. Knight, A Brief History of Seventh-day Adventists (Hagerstown, gernaut of coercive redemption. Md.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1999). 11 Morgan, pp. 15-20. Joseph H. Waggoner drew on extensive and 12 'National Degeneracy,' The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Aug. 12,1858. varied experience in activist journalism in 1886 "On Adventists and the conflict over the Sunday law in California, see Warren L. Johns, when, as the first editor of the American Sentinel Dateline Sunday, U.S.A. (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1967), pp. 79-94; Eric Syme, A History of SDA Church-State Relations in the United States magazine, he took the lead in the Adventist cam- (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1973), pp. 26-28. paign to defend liberty against what he called a "J. H. Waggoner, ''Not a Politician," Signs of the Times, Sept. 14, 1882 (Supp.). program to "nationalize Christianity"20 —a pro- 15 Sandra Sizer Frankiel, California's Spiritual Frontiers: Religious Alternatives in Anglo- Protestantism, 1850-1910 (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988), pp. 47-55. gram to establish a legal foundation at the federal 'Sunday in California,' Signs of the Times, Oct. 5,1882. level for legislation enforcing Christian morality. 17 Letter to G. I. Butler and S. N. Haskell, published in Ellen G. White, Selected A year and a half later, though, as was common in Messages, book 2, pp. 334, 335. 18 Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, 9 vols. (Oakland: Pacific Press the Adventist cause during that era, he was sent to Publishing Association (18751-1909), 5:711-718. a new, and far distant, field of labor—Europe. "Ellen G. White, 'Our Present Duty and the Coming Crisis," The Advent Review and And it was there that his labors came to a sudden Sabbath Herald, Jan.11,1887. 20 J. H. Waggoner, From Eden to Eden: A Historic and Prophetic Study (Oakland: Pacific end when he died of an aneurysm in 1889.21 Press Publishing Company., 1888), pp. 174, 175. It would be left to the young associate editors— Whidden, p.142.

LIBERTY• SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 200 9 19 ' othing so defines the modern capital of the Dominican Republic as the Columbus monument, which dominates a hill just above Santo Domingo. Its soar- ing concrete facade—which evokes a massive ship bearing down on the land—contains more than the supposed bones of Christopher Columbus. It could just as easily be bearing the memories of religious zeal that destroyed a people in the New World. The Columbus Lighthouse, or Faro a Columbus made landfall in the Colon, is a controversial monument in Bahamas, moved on to Cuba, and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. then established the first outpost It was erected as a tribute to for European power in the New Christopher Columbus 500 years World here in what is modern-day after he reached the Americas. Dominica. While thoughts of gold inspired the whole expedition, they were almost equally motivated to Christianize the inhabitants. Unfortunately, their methods knew no restraint. Within 50 years of the first voyage a Carib population estimated to be as high as 10 million had declined to about 400. Disease, forced slave labor, and unimaginable cruelties—known only because the perpetrators themselves wrote of them—led to almost total extermination. A famous chief named Hatuey led an opposition till his capture. The conquistadores put him on a stake to burn him alive. But before lighting the fire they offered him the chance to convert—and then the offer of a cleaner death by beheading. Only by accepting the Christian faith, he was told, could he hope for heaven and an eternal life of bliss. "No," he said, declining the offer, "I don't want to meet any more Christians." • Now, so many centuries later, religion and religious dialogue have taken on a very different character in the

LIBERTY• SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 21

""•

Columbus strikes a heroic pose in Columbus Square, Santa Domingo.

Mobile TV equipment to cover the event in the main stadium.

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Dominican Republic. At the International Religious Liberty Association Congress I attended we shared the value of religious freedom with leaders of many faiths and

interacted with various political leaders. 1.0-ArvoltroN. .4.c.*:" ? A Jesuit priest spoke eloquently about the 1"3, freedom for all to determine their own '40"..i•-oi • faith direction. A congressman gave a very encouraging report of the in-process development of a new constitution and how it would enshrine the rights of reli- gious faith for all. Best, it seems, to keep the bones of the past well and truly bur- ied in the concrete of the past. The present for the Dominican Republic was on dynamic display two days after the conference. Over 13,000 mostly young people assembled in a downtown stadium to celebrate and praise religious freedom for more than four hours. It was a highly charged pro- Liberty in the Land of Columbus gram that moved along with an energy Religious Liberty Celebrated in Dominican Republic seemingly derived from the frequently cheering thousands. I will never forget BY BARRY BUSSEY the moment when, to the accompani- he first Inter-American IRLA of our society with rights that nobody ment of a costumed chorus and musical (International Religious Liberty can destroy," Rev. Colino, of the Roman soloist on the stage, a "cast of hundreds" TAssociation) Congress was held Catholic Church, said to the delegates. in costume enacted the freedom story of in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, "We need to allow the churches to work the biblical exodus. April 27-30, 2009. It was characterized with liberty and freedom to share the Also on stage was Moses and by easy and open discussion between true liberty God offers to men—to seek Pharaoh's court. Down on the floor a quite disparate groups. truth without pressure and violence. multitude of Hebrew slaves surged Panel discussion included Rabbi Religious institutions need to help soci- through the parting waters of the Red Oisiki Ghiti, of the Jewish Community; ety. Religious liberty is our human Sea (a billowing vision of cloth held by Rev. Francisco Javier Colino, professor at right—government cannot change its more actors). On the stage a brazier next the major Jesuit seminary; Pastor Braulio position on human rights. And if privi- to Pharaoh flamed up as he spoke of Portes, president of the Christianization leges are given to one religion we must never letting them go. But at that Church in the Dominican Republic; and have rights to everyone." moment down on the floor someone lit Obispo Cesar Holguin Kourry, of the Colino called upon everyone to work a huge paper-wrapped column that lit- Episcopal Church. All noted the positive together in protecting religious liberty. erally became the pillar of fire leading changes in understanding of religious However, everyone is guilty, he noted, of them to freedom. Thank God for reli- freedom in Latin America and the not doing more. "As religious leaders we gious liberty. And the crowd cheered! Caribbean. need to respect the rights of everyone.... "The human being is the foundation We need to be united and raise voices Lincoln Steed, editor, Liberty magazine.

22 LIBERTY° SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 r"F`''"-or0.110Vagbr,r-to.r---- LL'. • 1.7

They desire all the freedoms— especially religious freedom

together to every creature in every land church." "To receive tolerance we must Spain to be recognized as such by the to seek whatever religion they like. We be tolerant and defend the right of every- government. can gather together with Jesus. Peace is one to praise the Lord as they want. The congress gave me a better the greatest thing we have. Jesus is with Religious liberty requires respect to gov- appreciation of the status of religious us and in us—He also faced difficulty ernment officials. Churches cannot be freedom in the Dominican Republic. when He was with us. We are here involved in government matters." "We With a population of more than 9.2 because we need to express love—first to need to support the person suffering for million there is a vibrant faith expres- God—a great privilege to love the Lord— his religion," Leito concluded. "It might sion in the community. I noted that and second to love the other people. be happening to him today but to me there are 250,000 of my fellow Seventh- Finally, we have to love ourselves, because tomorrow." day Adventists. if we love ourselves we love other people Professor Rosa Maria Martinez de On May 2, as a follow-up to the semi- and we love the Lord." Codes, a professor of history from Spain, nar, over 13,000 Dominicans showed up Dr. Scot E. Isaacson and Dr. Patrick argued that government must reflect the for the Festival of Religious Freedom. Thurston provided the delegates with a changing reality in society. Latin The program was very well organized historical review of the experience of the America is very different today from 50 and involved hundreds of young people Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day years ago when not every religion was who participated as members of choirs, Saints in Latin America. From humble accepted. Today there is a greater plural- bands, marching parades, and drama missionary beginnings in the 1850s it is ity that requires a change in views. The presentations. now a major religious movement in the region today. But there is a history of trial and perseverance against religious dis- crimination and persecution. A consistent theme throughout the presentations was the recognition that religious freedom not only includes the right to practice one's faith but it requires equal treatment among the religious communities. Examples were given of some Latin American countries that authorized only the majority religion's clergy to perform marriages. Dr. Israel Leito, president of the Inter- American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, reminded the delegates that fact that the Roman Catholic Church "It is a great accomplishment," noted there is still a ways to go in the region to enjoys privileges, she noted, "doesn't Dr. John Graz, IRLA director, "for the o protect religious freedom. He suggested mean the other religions should not be so Dominican Republic to have hosted this that there is "intolerance without bound- recognized." She warned that it will event. They have much to be proud of. • aries." "In most of our countries they require much effort and gave the exam- The congress was very good and ... the • recognize just one church." He bemoaned ple of Spain. It took the Spanish govern- weekend festival was fabulous." n the fact that in some situations the gov- ment more than 10 years of negotiations ernment says where a church may be with the religious communities to arrive Barry Bussey, a lawyer originally from Canada, is associate director of public affairs and religious liberty affairs for the ,;` built—"In other countries the church at a comprehensive agreement of what General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, at the building has to be smaller than the main would be required of a new religion in Washington, D.C., headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.

LIBERTY' SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 23 OPINION

Gay Rights and the Limits of Religious Liberty

BY LAWRENCE SWAIM ILLUSTRATION BY EDEL RODRIGUEZ

he experience of the Religious TRight is a cautionary one. Successful in putting together a coalition with enormous electoral clout for over three decades, they 4 were mainly unsuccessful in chang- ing American life. In addition to adopting a hectoring tone that embarrassed many evangelical Christians, they were wrong about what the United States Constitution means in modern America. They

24 LIBERTY" SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009

The most egregious mistake made by the Religious Right was a dependence on state power to promote their religion, while ignoring the religious rights of others. often used religious liberty arguments incor- ity in the workplace. Furthermore, the employer rectly to promote their conservative social ideas, made it clear that the employee's future employ- while at the same time trying to use the state to ment was dependent on signing what might be impose those ideas on people who didn't agree called a "tolerance agreement." But the Christian with them. Many of these same mistakes are in evangelical employee refused to sign. He had no danger of being replicated in the controversy problem getting along with his gay and lesbian over gay parenthood and same-sex marriage. co-workers, he said, and he specifically agreed The most egregious mistake made by the with his employer on the importance of civility Religious Right was a dependence on state power in the workplace. He just didn't want to sign a to promote their religion, while ignoring the reli- document that seemed to embrace a worldview gious rights of others. Let us consider, as a point he couldn't agree with. of departure, a modern example of religious coer- The court ruled in his favor, and it's not hard cion. An Army general orders a Jewish soldier to to see why. The document could be interpreted attend an evangelical Christian worship service— as having the power of a contract, and the man- and this is not a suggestion, but comes as a direct agement was asking the employee to codify pri- order. It is also posted on a company bulletin vate beliefs that were none of their business. board, and mentions that attendance is compul- Furthermore, the employee couldn't be sure how sory. Is the general simply engaging in free speech the company would interpret such a signed doc- and the free exercise of his religion, as some com- ument or contract in the future. In any case, the mentators like James Dobson would have it? Not employer had already achieved compliance from at all—it is actually a blatantly unconstitutional the employee, so in the absence of further prob- attempt to use the command structure of the mil- lems no signed document was needed. itary to interfere with somebody else's free exercise What makes these two seemingly disparate of religion. (It would be equally unconstitutional, cases interesting is that while they both involve of course, if an atheist officer ordered an evangeli- social advocacy, they also involved religious lib- cal soldier not to attend an evangelical worship erty. The first case is an example of freedom service.) But this necessary balancing off of rights from religion (Bible verses used selectively to is something the Religious Right seems never to single out gay co-workers), whereas the second have quite understood. involved freedom for religion (in which manage- Or take the following case: a conservative ment was prohibited from imposing a contract evangelical posts a sign at his workplace with that contradicted the religious beliefs of its verses from Leviticus critical of homosexuals, employee). positioned in such a way that everyone in the The principles involved in these cases rever- workplace can see them. A group of gay and les- berate in different guises throughout any discus- bian employees asks the supervisor to take the sion of gay rights. At the center of the contro- sign down. The supervisor refuses, and the versy is the role of the state, and the way modern homosexual employees file a lawsuit. The gay democracy works. There is a general consensus workers prevail, because the judge rules that the that pluralism doesn't work without civility, and only reason for displaying those particular verses a grudging admission that yes, organized reli- was to single out co-workers on the basis of sex- gion has at times singled out unpopular minori- ual orientation, and to some extent expose them ties. At the same time, there is also a growing to ridicule and humiliation. The right of the consensus that laws or regulations against hate believer to display his Bible verses was trumped speech—like the heavy-handed "tolerance agree- by the right of other employees to be free of a ment" the employer wanted his worker to sign in hostile work environment. the example above—don't work. The culture wars Another case, however, resulted in a victory have been a hard school for both evangelicals for an evangelical employee. In this situation, a and secularists. man was asked to sign a form by his employer But since they see themselves as the embodi- agreeing to be tolerant of gays and lesbians. The ment of American virtue, some in the Religious objective, the employer said, was to ensure civil- Right have not always considered the rights of

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others, nor have they automatically engaged in riages? The reason, again, has to do with the bal- People with opposing viewpoints on dialogue. They have often turned to the courts ancing of rights. While your individual rights Proposition 8 demonstrate outside with the expectation that they could institu- usually trump everything else (the state cannot California Supreme Court in San tionalize their religious beliefs. A good many compel you to do something against your reli- Francisco. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith Americans did not want that, and the Religious gion), the courts and legislatures may decide that Right failed to fully realize their valid underly- the US Constitution guarantees rights to other ing concerns. Interestingly, the movement to people that have not been considered before. This limit abortion has now been taken up by secular is likely to happen where same-sex marriage is women who promote sex education, new birth concerned. You cannot take away these new control methods, and secular moral arguments rights, in those states where they have come, but for responsible sexuality. you can protect your own. And in states that do Of course the religious scruples of the indi- not have same-sex marriage, you can advocate vidual should be protected, and that is precisely against it, if you do not like it. But that is not the job of agencies that protect religious liberty. religious liberty. That is social advocacy. If you are asked to do an artificial insemination, This might be a good time for churches to perform a same-sex marriage, issue a marriage consider how they approach social advocacy. It is license to a gay couple, sell prescription birth at best a half truth, that marriage between a man control pills, or assist with an abortion, and you and a woman is "under attack" by gays. Straight have religious scruples that prevent you from marriage is in trouble more because of the doing so, that is an authentic religious liberty narcissism, materialism, and infidelities of issue. It is the responsibility of all people in our straight people. Here's another way to express this society that cherish religious liberty to protect problem: of all the sins of our time, including tor- you from being forced to violate your religious ture, unnecessary war, and corporate exploitation, scruples, and there should be no legal or occupa- why should Christians concentrate on same- tional retaliation. And I believe you will prevail, sex marriage as being especially deserving of con- because there's ample case law to protect you. demnation? It is no less morally important if we In states where there is no same-sex mar- also address these very real challenges. riage, you can also campaign for or against it, Homophobia, of course, is not the disap- depending on your position. But can you suc- proval of sexual acts between consenting adults, cessfully petition the courts to stop same-sex but an irrational and disproportionate hatred of marriages in those states that permit such mar- those people who engage in them. Feelings about

LIBERTY' SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2 0 0 9 27 Dialogue with people who are different from us is actually a democratic dynamo that drives much-needed social, political, and theological growth. exactly like them was confused with signs of social decline. But the need for dialogue can lead directly to the process of communication of ideas to others known as witnessing for one's faith. Dialogue with people who are different from us is actually a democratic dynamo that drives much-needed social, political, and theo- logical growth. As such we should welcome it.

Lawrence Swaim writes from Napa, California. This article addresses the very contentious issue of gay rights and gay marriage in a way that invokes the true principles of religious liberty. I know that by us including it some of our strongest supporters will be inclined to critique the moral moorings of Liberty. Let me say as directly as I can that the Biblical moral values I espouse, and that are held by my church— the Seventh-day Adventist Church—are incompat- ible with the gay lifestyle. One has to hold rather A man writes with chalk on homosexuality are deeply intertwined with exotic views of biblical interpretation and be pre- Santa Monica Blvd. outside the social attitudes. Anybody who knows anything pared to ignore the plainest of biblical statements to Los Angeles California Temple about bullying knows that a large proportion of think otherwise. of The Church of Jesus Christ of it is gay-baiting, but when confronted by evi- But we need to remind ourselves that the biblical Latter-day Saints during a "No dence of violence against gays, some evangelicals model of religious freedom is to allow people to on Prop 8" march and rally pro- denounce it as secular propaganda. "choose you this day whom you will serve," and to testing the Mormon Church's The social interests of Christianity, whether recognize that there are natural consequences to all support of Proposition 8. conservative or progressive, should be primarily of our choices that God will not withhold from us. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok based on arguments that are compelling enough We need to recognize also that the civil model of reli- to change society one person at a time. Although gious freedom is to allow all belief and unbelief to it may deal with the same issues, religious liberty coexist, without compulsion and restriction. is different, because it usually comes into play on Of course people of differing moral viewpoints an emergency basis to protect the individual or a have a right, even an obligation to voice them— minority, and is often a matter of legal precedent and, in a democracy particularly, an opportunity that must be considered against the claims of to insert them into the public discussion that may competing interests. To what extent is the core eventually change the public view. My church once debate about same-sex marriage and artificial participated in a broad-based temperance move- insemination a religious liberty issue? Not much, ment that sought to change public attitudes. Of I'd say. Opposition to them is social advocacy, not course it was done from a point of moral advocacy be confused with religious liberty, until it involves not from a platform of religious liberty. Even today, protection of individuals asked to do something in operating a department of Public Affairs and that is unacceptable because of their religion. Religious Liberty, my church makes a distinction It is sometimes difficult for those who live in between what we call "Public Affairs"—or the con- sheltered religious communities and denomina- cern of a religious entity to insert its viewpoint into tions to accept this, but religious, political and society and to advance the church's interests in the social pluralism works so well because it is larger, civil sphere—and the "Religious Liberty" compo- both demographically and ideologically, than nent of its department title—this being the promo- they are—and therefore requires a degree of dia- tion of religious freedom for all, the protection of logue and negotiation that they'd never need in religious rights and the defense of a separation of a less diverse society. To the Religious Right, the church and state as being the best enabling model need for dialogue with people who weren't for true civil religious freedom. Editor.

28 LIBERTY• SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it was by the indulgence of one class of the people that another enjoyed the exercise

of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which

gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution

no assistance, requires only that those who

live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it, on all

occasions, their effectual support.

—President George Washington in a letter to the congregation of Touro Synagogue, Newport, R.1. August, 1790. Guaranteeing Rights However, that passage (1 Thessalonians Clifford Goldstein on Richard Dawkins' Thank you for the "Freedom Linder 5:3): "For when they shall say, Peace Web site. I felt I should read the Attack" article in Liberty. and safety; then sudden destruction magazine to see what Liberty actually Another way religious freedom is cometh upon them, as travail upon a means to you. under attack worldwide is various gov- woman with child; and they shall not I was intrigued to find an article ernments preventing us from feeding escap') could be applied to any form of arguing defending a football coach who the hungry within that government's political organization that is predicated participated in before-match prayers. country. on reaching for"peace and safety."Any I did a search of your Web site to see Examples are the rulers of Myanmar system must challenge in some respect if you had covered the case of Nicole (Burma) preventing food and help any individual's belief system, to answer Smalkowski, a young atheist persecuted reaching their distressed citizens on the the closing point of your response to by teachers and children at her high "You perhaps feel peninsula. Apparently the hunger of the letter. Some do say that"peace and school in Oklahoma for refusing to join no need to defend people in Darfur, Sudan, is deepened safety"would come about in the absence in a prayer before a basketball game. by the government's denial of access of political organization beyond the Neither, as far as I can see, have you atheists against to the regions of near starvation, and it minimal state. To those that so think I written at all about the cases of Jeremy the attacks of the was reported that some of those who ask: Is Thomas Hobbes wrong in his view Hall and Dustin Chalker, atheists bullied religious." registered to vote against the ruler of that life is"solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, by members of the American military Zimbabwe were denied government- and short"? What evidence is there for refusing to take part in prayers. authorized food unless they recanted. humans are inherently cooperative and You perhaps feel no need to defend My religion tells me to feed the amiable? An issue not addressed is this: atheists against the attacks of the hungry. Should there be international Why does anyone believe that political religious. But religious liberty surely common law guaranteeing me the right truths can be found in biblical passages? includes the right not to pray, and the to get food to the hungry of the world? I would think those who are unyielding separation of church and state surely I think so. Do you agree? If so, hold the proponents of the separation of church implies that state schools and the thought. Such an international law and state certainly would not think that military should not discriminate against would guarantee us the religious free- way. Commitment to religious freedom atheists, or favor those who have, or are dom to follow the religious adjuration to assumes diversity of interpretations prepared to pretend to have, religious feed the hungry. and controlling, if not eliminating, the belief. EDWARD N. FADELEY impulse to find political certainty in JOE HIGMAN RETIRED AS JUSTICE OF open-ended texts. E-MAIL OREGON SUPREME COURT PROFESSOR PETER WOOLSTENCROFT CRESWELL, OREGON. DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCES Point well taken. The First Amendment UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO certainly guarantees the right to be free There is such a law in the universal moral ONTARIO, CANADA from religion, and no person of faith code Christ promised to apply at His should endorse coerced religion. Editor. coming. It is in feeding the hungry and Far be it from me to defend letters to the in aiding the distressed that we show editor. We do not restrict your comments. Seeking Peace? the humanity that impresses Divinity. However, the point is well taken: we As a longtime reader and supporter of However, an international law to compel must be careful not to confuse spiritual Liberty magazine, I was disappointed such an attitude might itself result in a maxims with the goals and structure of at the two articles with misleading confederacy of compulsion—the type of the secular state. The reflex rejection of information about Islam in the March/ thing my Bible warns will come in stress- the U.N. by some religious conservatives April 2009 edition. ful times. Editor. works with their rose-colored glasses of "Islam: Religion of Peace?" makes nationalism to show a disregard for true the majority of Muslims seem peacelov- A Matter of Sovereignty spirituality. Editor. ing and makes the extremist Muslims Gerald Weber ("A Matter of Sovereignty;' seem small. This is the perception that September/October 2008) confesses Defend Against Religion? is widely being promoted today. The that he has never understood the United I came across the Liberty article "Faith truth is that even if this"minority"were Nations. He then (as so many do) cites a Attack" (September/October 2008) by only 10 percent, they would still out- biblical passage in support of his view. number all the people in Russia. If even

30 LIBERTY• SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 20 percent of the so-called "moder- in my office. Great publication! Always Michigan, 1963. I found that it's been ates" quietly supported the 10 percent timely and thought provoking. One a vital theme throughout history. I IILIBERTY° extremists, they would together be thing I learned from my experience in own a book printed in 1820 entitled Chairman, Editorial Board Halyard B. Thomsen equivalent to all the people in the U.S. what some people refer to as a "cult" Charles Phillips, Esquire. Phillips was Editor Lincoln E. Steed and Russia. Anyway you cut it, they are is that unless a person constantly an outstanding barrister in Ireland and Associate Editor Melissa Reid not a small group. Also, if they are such challenges their own beliefs, they do England. His speech at Sligo on separa- Administrative Assistant Snehlatha Bathini Consulting Editors Eugene Hsu a small part of Islam and if 90 percent not grow emotionally or mentally or tion of church and state echoes with Jan Paulsen of Islam is peaceful, then why haven't spiritually, and they are not helpful to themes of freedom of conscience. Don C. Schneider these 90 percent (which is equivalent others. "The union of church and state John Graz Consultants Vernon Alger to all North and South Americans, ROSALIE DURON only converts good Christians into Amireh Al-Haddad Europeans, and Australians combined) HILLSBORO, OREGON bad statesmen, and political knaves Barry Bussey Walter Carson shut down the work of the radicals. But into pretended Christians. It is at best Charles Eusey to date they have not. I Use Liberty but a foul and adulterous connection, Samuel Green Gregory Hamilton The author inadvertently reveals To say that I enjoy your magazine would polluting the purity of heaven with the Kevin James why there is apparent peacefulness of be a substantial understatement. There abomination of earth, and hanging Grace Mackintosh Matthew McMearty some parts of Islam. He says that when is no better reading than to learn and the tatters of a political piety upon the Adrian Westney Islam is threatened, it looks at the enjoy. In addition to my full-time judge cross of an insulted Savior. Religion, Alan Reinach "war verses"of the Koran, and when work I teach Criminal Justice and Cor- holy religion, ought not, in the words of Art Direction/Design Bryan Gray it is no longer in danger, it looks at rections at a local college. I have used its Founder, to be 'led into temptation' Website Management Emanuel Pelote Treasurer Kenneth W. Osborn the "peace verses."That is seen today. the magazine many times to stimulate (p. 22). Legal Advisor Todd McFarland When Islam is less than 2 percent of a discussion and to answer questions. JAMES BALL www.libertymagazine.org BROOKINGS, OREGON country's population, they are quiet and So thank you, and please keep up Liberty' is a registered trademark of the General Conference peaceful—too small to do anything, the great work. Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists. such as in the U.S. When they go over RICHARD GLEASON Read it All Liberty •(ISSN 0024-2055) is published bimonthly by the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the 2 percent mark, they are at war, DUBUQUE, IOWA I just wanted to thank you so much for 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600. demonstrate violently, and cause civil the wonderful job that you, the staff, Periodicals postage paid at Hagerstown, MD. unrest such as in much of Europe. When Prayers From the Dead? and the contributors do to make Liberty POSTMASTER send changes of address to Liberty, P.O. Box 1119, Hagerstown, MD 21741-1119. Copyright 0 2009 by the North they are the full majority, they are I found your editorial "Very Public such a great magazine. For the first American Division. peaceful such as in Saudi Arabia (if you Prayers" (March/April 2009) very time I read every article in the January/ Printed by the Review and Herald Publishing Association, can call it peaceful not to allow your interesting. I was pleased to see that February 2009 issue. Usually there 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21741-1119. Subscription price: U.S. $7.95 per year. Single copy: U.S. $1.50. citizens to practice). someone out there agreed with the fact are a lot of legal terms in some of the Price may vary where national currencies differ. For subscrip- JEFF ZAREMSKY that the Bible teaches clearly the"dead articles, so I might not read the whole tion information or changes, please call 1 (800) 456-3991. FLORIDA know not anything." So, Dr. King and story. But I really enjoyed "The Break Vol. 104, No.5, September/October 2009 others are not watching from heaven, From Rome." I am looking forward to Moving? Please notify us 4 weeks in advance The article did point out the contradic- but waiting in their graves for the resur- reading the whole series. This issue

tion between Islam's peaceful side and rection. I wanted to point out, however, really taught me so much—with Name at times violent militants. It is not the that the scriptural citation should be all of the great writing and stories. I role of Liberty to try to characterize any Ecclesiastes 9:5—not Proverbs 21: 4. always enjoy your great editorials and Address (new, if change of address) religion. All religions have a history of PAT PROVENZANO the letters also. You all do such a great City violence and disruption when unbal- E-MAIL work for God. I am a member of the anced elements interact with perceived SDA Church, and I volunteer for our State Zip threat or vulnerability. Our call is to Fresh Air Bibleinfo.com; I will be able to use all New Subscriber? openness and true religious freedom. My wife Pat and I have been sponsors of this information as a witnessing tool to ATTACH LABEL HERE for address change or inquiry. Editor. Liberty for umpteen years. Even at those explain to others how Protestantization If moving, list new address above. Note: your subscription expiration date (issue, year) times when funds were scarce your got its start. May God bless you, and is given at upper right of label. Example: 0308L1 would Great Publication! magazine held a priority. It is always keep up the great writing. end with the third (May/June) issue of 2008. I keep reading and am now going to like a breath of fresh air. LEEANN R. WARD To subscribe to Liberty check rate below and fill in your subscribe for myself Liberty magazine, The idea of liberty of conscience PACIFIC, WASHINGTON name and address above. Payment must accompany order. Ul 1 year $7.95 which originally came to the lawyers helped me choose to take a course of Mail to: Liberty subscriptions, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, study for an M.A. at Andrews University, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 1(800) 456-3991

LIBERTY' SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 31 14

The continuing defense of civil liberties is indispensable if often thankless. ogipt. Strong and determined opponents of human rights have always used the rhetoric of patriotism and practicality to subvert liberty and to dominate the weak, the unorthodox, and the despised.... As embodied in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, these principles reflect a glorious tradition extending from the ancient world to modern times.

—Norman Dorsen in "Civil Liberties," from Encyclopaedia of the American Constitution, eds., Leonard W. Levy, Kenneth L. Karst, and Dennis J. Mahoney (New York:. Macmillan, 1986), p. 379.