Religious freedom for some, not all
By Lori Sherman August 28, 2012 6:40PM
Updated: September 30, 2012 6:06AM
On Aug. 20, Gov. Pat Quinn celebrated the end of Ramadan by signing Senate Bill 2949, a bill that allows students to reschedule assignments around religious holidays. I have no problem with that.
What I do have a problem with is the blatant double standard in his statements on religious tolerance.
Quinn, in addressing the Muslim community said, “The most American and fundamental freedom that we have in our country, the First Amendment of our constitution says that everyone has the right to practice their religion and their faith without fear of intimidation.”
I applaud and agree wholeheartedly. However, actions speak louder than words.
Better yet, there’s certainly no fear of intimidation in a federal law that forces Catholic institutions to provide birth control for its employees. For all you women out there complaining someone else needs to pay for your birth control, find another job. This is still, I think, a free country. No one is twisting your arm and forcing you to work there.
Where are you, Gov. Quinn, in defending the Roman Catholics against this attack by Obamacare? Oh, too much to expect from the man who, in June 2011, terminated our state’s foster-care contracts with Catholic Charities because they wouldn’t cede their beliefs and “abide” by the Civil Union law, refusing to place foster children with same-sex couples because it’s against its beliefs.
Where is the admiration for Catholics practicing their faith and beliefs without fear of intimidation? Heaven forbid the children are placed in a Catholic home.
Further, how’s that religious tolerance working for Chick-fil-A? In July, Dan Cathy, president of Chick-fil-A, expressed his personal opinion, his right under our Constitution, that he supports the biblical definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman.
Shortly thereafter, Chicago Alderman Joe Moreno vowed to block Chick-fil-A’s plans to build a store in the Logan Square neighborhood, a sentiment later joined by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, when he said he would join that fight because “Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago’s values.” Gee, no intimidation there. Certainly no malfeasance.
All of this happening under Gov. Quinn’s mythical Utopia of religious tolerance in the state of Illinois. Maybe that’s why Gov. Quinn rushed past reporters after his speech. We can only speculate it’s because religious equality is not alive and well in the state of Illinois.
Email Lori Sherman at
twinmom6802@yahoo.com
