Then They Came For The Jews

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists,
and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.


Then they came for the Jews, and I did
not speak out — Because I was not a Jew.


Then they came for me — and there was
no one left to speak for me.


- German pastor Martin Niemoeller, reflecting on the Nazi terror


In a conversation the other day with a fellow pastor, the talk turned to the Obama Administration's refusal to grant religious organizations an exemption from purchasing health insurance that covers abortion-inducing drugs, surgical sterilization, and contraception. My companion's comment put this egregious and dangerous violation of religious liberty totally into perspective.

"Good for the Catholics! It's about time they get what they deserve for supporting such a liberal administration."

Since I've never discovered a polite way of telling someone they are dumber than a sack of turnips, I excused myself and went to the restroom. When I returned my friend was on his cell phone, and my urge to strangle him had passed.

Are we, who profess the evangelical Christian faith really so naive (the polite word for "dumber than a sack of turnips) as to believe that the president's recent decision only infringes on the Catholic Church's freedom of religion, and we are all somehow still safe? Is our Catholic bias so strong...and with it our apparent ignorance of our reformational origins...that it is somehow OK when discrimination happens to "them?"

At a time when New York City schools have given Christian churches until this weekend to find another place to meet, because while "religious services" are still permitted on school property, Christian "worship services" are now prohibited. (And yes, the Supreme Court has already refused to overturn this decision.)

At a time when the United States Air Force has removed the word "God" from their Rapid Capabilities logo. The previous moto read "Opus Dei Cum Pecunia Alienum Efficemus" (Doing God's Work with Other People's Money). It's now changed to "Miraculi Cum Pecunia Alienum Efficemus" (Doing Miracles with Other People's Money).

At a time when the Supreme Court has ruled that the will of the people of California regarding Proposition 8 (a ban against same-sex marriage) is unconstitutional...

At times like this, can we really ignore ANY shot fired at ANY portion of the Christian community? Why am I hearing talking heads on major Christian television networks making statements like "Well, we'll just have to see how the Catholic Church fares under these new rulings."

We evangelicals must follow the lead of men like Chuck Colson and stand unequivocally with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters. Because when the government violates the religious liberty of one group, it threatens the religious liberty of all. We should be writing and calling our representatives and senators. Our voices should be heard along with those of Catholic bishops and university presidents.

Because if this bone-headed ruling is allowed to stand, what (or who) comes next? Tax exemptions? Clergy housing allowances? Requirements for ALL clergy to perform same-sex marriages or face fines (if you don't think that can happen, talk to some of our brothers and sisters in Canada).

Then they came for the Catholics, and I did
not speak out — Because I was not a Catholic.