20100902.0915

There is still a lot of hubbub regarding the "Ground Zero Mosque," much of it vitriol from people who don't live in New York City and who normally advocate individual and property rights and minimal interference from governmental entities but think that there ought to be laws against that sort of thing. I've noted it in brief before.

A friend offered me this link through a social networking site. And, just so you know, the man who wrote the letter so linked, Bishop Park, is not some newbie only recently come into his position, as noted here.

I think he's right. This issue goes to the heart of what it is to be American. For those who take the view that the United States is, as noted in the Constitution (Article VI and Amendment I) and in a statement by President Washington (Article 11 of the 1796 "Treaty of Peace and Friendship"), a nation that disclaims the explicit tie of religion to government, to deny equal protection of the due process of law (which is, as far as has been directly observed, is being followed) to an organization because of its religious affiliation is absurd. And for those who view the United States as a Christian nation and view Islam as the enemy of Christendom, I seem to recall Matthew 5 including such things as "Agree with thine adversary quickly" (verse 25), "I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also" (39), and "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (44); in the print editions I have where I live, they are even printed in red...

Not a lot of that going around right now, is there?