James Tonkowich - The Liberty Threat: The Attack on Religious Freedom in America Today

Praise for The Liberty Threat

Of all our freedoms, religious freedom is the most preciousand in our day, the most endangered. The Liberty Threat awakens the reader to the dangers, explains how we got here, and most importantly, suggests what we must do to preserve and strengthen religious liberty in America.

Most Rev. Paul S. Loverde, Bishop of Arlington

In an era that will be defined by repeated assaults on religious liberty, this is a must-read for Americans of faith--and for any American who believes in real liberty. With his engaging, fast-moving style, Jim Tonkowich serves as a most capable guide to the history of religious liberty, covering all the key events and issues, from Neros violent persecution of Christians to Barack Obamas bloodless but equally insidious policies. Are you worried about the present and future attacks on religion and liberty? Read thisand then dont forget to follow the proposed solutions.

Dr. Kevin Roberts, President, Wyoming Catholic College

The threat to our consciences today is so severe that citizens of all social, political and educational levels will need to get into the fight. The number of Christians being beaten, raped and killed each year is the highest in history. On a far lower scale, even here in the United States, the climate is becoming more hostile to Christians than ever before. For those who want a readable account of the turbulent history of religious liberty both in its high and its low moments, and not written as a college textbook, this book will be very satisfying.

Amb. Michael Novak, retired George Frederick Jewett Scholar in Religion, Philosophy, and Public Policy from the American Enterprise Institute, visiting professor at Ave Maria University.

A targeted practical study of religious liberty informed by Christian hope with helpful resources, excellent for parish groups and adult education.

Mary Ellen Bork, Free-lance writer and lecturer on issues affecting Catholic life and culture.

This little book will take its place as one of the best surveys of religious liberty American stylewhat it is, where it came from, and why it is in crisison the market today. Written in the rich, punchy style of Kevin Hassons The Right to Be Wrong, James Tonkowichs The Liberty Threat surveys the historical and contemporary evidence in a masterful fashion. From the early Church fathers to the American founding and beyond, Tonkowich writes with authority and verve. Read this book. Wherever you stand on the greatest issue of our daythe meaning and value of religious freedomyou wont be disappointed.

Thomas Farr, Director, The Religious Freedom Project Georgetown University

The Liberty Threat is a welcome overview of the challenges to religious liberty that America faces. Written by a layman, it is a great introduction to one of the most pressing issues of our day. People of all faiths will find it a useful resource.

William A. Donohue, President, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.

Jim Tonkowich has written a brilliant, eloquent defense of religious liberty, and perhaps the very best book on the topic of our era. He has an eloquent pen and sterling, fluid style. James Madison, the principal architect of our Constitution, wrote religious liberty was our most sacred property right, that without it, our other freedoms werent secure either. Tonkowichs excellent book is worthy of Madison, and it could not be more timely or relevant for the fulsome national debate we are having on religious liberty in America.

Tim Goeglein, Senior Advisor to the President & Vice President External Relations, Focus on the Family.

Copyright 2014 James Tonkowich

All rights reserved. With the exception of short excerpts used in articles and critical review, no part of this work may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in any form whatsoever, printed or electronic, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Cataloging-in-Publication data on file with the Library of Congress

Typeset by Lapiz

Cover artwork and design by Milo Persic

eISBN: 978-1-61890-643-4

Published in the United States by Saint Benedict Press, LLC
PO Box 410487
Charlotte, NC 28241
www.SaintBenedictPress.com

Printed and bound in the United States of America

To my brother, Greg Tonkowich
19562014

About the Author

Dr. James Tonkowich is a freelance writer, speaker, and commentator on religion and public life. A weekly columnist at ChristianHeadlines.com, he has contributed to a wide variety of opinion sites and publications. He also serves as Special Advisor to the President for Strategic Initiatives at Wyoming Catholic College.

Contents

Prologue

R ELIGIOUS LIBERTY has been one of the defining characteristics of the United States. When the American founders enumerated our rights as citizens, religious liberty came first before freedom of speech, of press, of assembly, and of petition. Religious liberty is central to who we are as a people.

While the implementation of religious liberty in America has never been perfect, nearly two hundred twenty-five years after the Bill of Rights our religious liberty is under unprecedented attack. Small business owners, academics, religious leaders, veterans groups, military personnel, school children, university students, and countless others have been told that their religious convictions are not protected under the law, must be hidden lest they offend, and are little more than irrational prejudices that can and must be ignored in the important moral and political debates of our era.

Some will say, That cant happen here. This is America. But it can happen here and, worse yet, it has been happening here for years.

In the Old Testament, men from the tribe of Issachar, we are told, were endowed with an understanding of the times and who knew what Israel had to do (1 Chronicles 12:33). This book is written so that Christian people today might understand the timesthis era, which God has entrusted to usand know what to do.

While this book is about religious liberty in the United States, its impossible to understand where we are and where were going without understanding where weve been.

Where did religious liberty come from? Who discovered it? And, given the history, how has the Church understood religious liberty?

To answer those questions, we need to go back to early Church history where we find the ancient Christian roots of modern religious liberty. Well do that in chapter 1.

Chapter 2 takes us from the Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock through the ratification of the U. S. Constitution. In Chapter 3, well look at the ways in which religious liberty has always been problematic from the early 1800s through about 1950.

Chapter 4 looks at the threats to religious liberty today and Chapter 5 suggests ways in which we can respond.

CHAPTER ONE

The Ancient Christian Roots of Modern Religious Liberty

Just a Pinch of Incense

I T really didnt seem like a big deal to most people. Just take a pinch of incense and offer it to the Roman gods. It was simple, it took very little time, and making the sacrifice marked you as a person of good standing in the community, a civic minded individual. Besides, the consequences of not performing this seemingly trivial rite of worship were exile, prison, beatings, torture, or even death.