Non-Negotiable: Life, Marriage, and Religious Freedom
In all of our lives, we have things that we absolutely will not compromise. For myself, and for many Christian conservative voters, there are three things in particular that we simply cannot stand to see undermined – life, marriage, and religious freedom. These things are simply not open to compromise. Pro-life, pro-family, and pro-freedom – that’s how this chick stands.
On Tuesday, October 9, 2012 I had the honor and privilege of attending an event in Steubenville, Ohio. The event was focused on those three non-negotiable things. Approximately 125 people attended this event, a good majority of whom are college students at Franciscan University in Steubenville. Michael Hernon, Vice President of Advancement at Franciscan University of Steubenville, hosted the event. Speakers included Dr. Scott Hahn, Mrs. Kimberly Hahn who is President of the Jefferson County Federated Republican Women, Dr. John Bergsma, Billy Cody from the Susan B Anthony List, and Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE).
Congressman Jeff Fortenberry introduced the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act in March of 2011. This act was introduced as a way to ensure that no American or faith organization would have to violate their faith beliefs, their deeply held values. One should never have to choose between these values and faith or “government coercion”. He noted that this bill was completely bipartisan, “because it is about principle, not politics.” He is absolutely right and the HHS mandate certainly violates mine and many others’ personal convictions and that is about principle – it has nothing to do with politics. He ended by saying, “Do what you must NOW; be an American, be a patriot.”
Dr. John Bergsma opened with the scripture Isaiah 5:20, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness…” Certainly we are living in a society that has accepted what would have been unacceptable just a few short years ago. He called on people to, “vote out those who would have conflicting moral values that we hold so dear.”
Mrs. Kimberly Hahn spoke about the local and state candidates. She noted that people could go to their states’ Right to Life site and download a voter’s guide with candidates who are pro-life. If this is important to you (and in my opinion, it should be), you can find your state’s affiliate site here.
Michael Hernon noted that, “there are issue that rise to a level of nothing else – these three issues trump everything else.” He noted that locally, in Jefferson County, Obama won by only 76 votes; last night there were at least 125 voting-aged people in that event – I would suspect we can do better this November! He urged the audience to make a difference and closed by saying, “Friends don’t let friends vote for Obama!” Well said, Mr. Hernon!
It is so very important to understand what you believe and vote in accordance with that. Your vote is your voice. It is not enough to have values and to live them; we must voice our concerns and elect people who align with those values. My favorite quote as of late is by Dietrich Bonhoeffer; he says, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” I would take that one step further and say that ‘not to vote is to vote’. We have a duty to speak up; we have a duty to vote.
If you are registered, I urge you to get out and vote your values on November 6th (or earlier if your state has early voting). It’s time to let government know that we cannot accept their godless mandates and legislation. It’s time to let them know that we are still a Christian nation.
