“If Rowland’s church is actively promoting a candidate or a party, then its participation should be questioned because it is in violation of the Constitution.” William C. Thomas
Wrong. A church so engaged may violate a tax regulation, but it’s definitely not violating the Constitution. Mr. Thomas, like many liberals, forgets that the Constitution, including the Amendments such as those in the Bill of Rights consist of negative laws against government power. Constitutional limitations on government powers, by default, create the free domain in which citizens, and yes, even citizens acting in legal organizations like churches and corporations, may exercise their freedom.
Seems like liberals like to think that the Constitution mandates certain behavior. They seem to always be searching for a constitutional justification to force one of their notions upon the country. They fundamentally don’t seem to understand how freedom works. Our Constitution sets the boundaries for government, the rest of what we do is up to us. Maybe, since they don’t seem to understand freedom, that’s why they don’t seem to understand how so much of what they promote actually damages our freedom. They don’t get that by growing laws, they actually shrink our free domain.
The 1st Am. limits what government can do with regard to religion. “Congress shall make no law…” The 1st Am. simply does not limit what people can do in their own religious interest.
One more thing, constitutional amendments modify and supersede language in the body of the Constitution. If an amendment exists on the subject, that’s where the analysis should begin. Mr. Thomas can’t cut and paste the Constitution to find a bit of language to support his case. Well, I suppose he can…. but it’s not going to be very persuasive.
B_Imperial