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January 17, 2007
Nebraska Bill Would Curtail Religious Freedom
Topics: Political News and commentaries
It's hard for me to believe that this Democratic legislator from Omaha, Nebraska, and United Methodist minister, doesn't know that his bill is staunchly anti-faith and particularly anti-Catholic, and would force churches to violate the law:
Last week, Nebraska State Senator Lowen Kruse introduced a bill (LB 261) to the state's unicameral legislature that seeks to curb underage drinking by striking from current law provisions that allow minors to consume alcohol in their own homes or at places of worship during religious rites.Actions of temperance activists like Kruse are doing much harm and little, if any, good. As such, they are part of the problem rather than the solution.In response to protests from religious leaders of various faiths, Kruse claims that it is unlikely authorities would enforce the ban on wine used in Communion services, saying that to do so would amount to "frivolous" prosecution. Furthermore, the senator said including religious services in the ban is mostly a defensive move: he has been criticized in the past for calling for tougher responses to underage drinking while allowing for the use of alcohol in religious ceremonies.
While Senator Kruse's underlying goal of tackling teen drinking may be admirable, the idea that kids are leaving religious ceremonies inebriated is absurd: Kruse himself has acknowledged that the amount of wine ingested during the course of a church service is negligible. And even under Prohibition, the Volstead Act allowed for religious exemptions for the use of wine. So why would a provision that defends religious liberty - and certainly doesn't lead to alcohol abuse by minors - need to be repealed?
Senator Kruse, himself a Methodist minister, should be appalled by the idea of forcing churches to violate the law. Kruse may argue that prosecutors will look the other way in such cases, but there is no guarantee of this. Nor is there any guarantee that religious leaders would be comfortable with flouting the rules of the state.
Though Kruse claims the inclusion of religious services in his bill is meant to head off criticism, he acknowledges that it strengthens his intended message, "Kids can't consume alcohol. Period." Despite his denials, Kruse is trying to influence others' religious practices.
Historically, parents have also been able to raise children in their own ethnic tradition. Italians have been able teach their children to enjoy Italian cuisine and savor it with a little wine. Jewish parents have been able to teach Jewish cultural and religious tradition by serving alcohol to their children as part of this tradition. And Catholic parents have been able to let their children celebrate communion with alcohol served by a priest.
It may comfort temperance activists to think that they are protecting our children from their parents, priests and physicians. However, the policies that comfort temperance activists are actually counterproductive.Nebraskans should contact their representatives and protest this outrageous, and likely purposeful, attempt to stifle religious freedom. After all, there's more alcohol in cold medicine than there is in a tiny sip of communion wine. Does Kruse want to ban cold medicine, next?In some groups, including Jews, Italians, Greeks, Portuguese, Spaniards, and many others, most people drink but there are few problems. There are three keys to their success.
1. The substance of alcohol is seen as rather neutral, being inherently neither a magic elixir nor a passport to maturity, success and prosperity. It's how alcohol is used that is all-important.
2. There are two equally acceptable choices for those legally able to drink: One choice is to drink in moderation, while the other choice is to abstain. What is never acceptable for anyone of any age under any circumstance is to abuse alcohol.
3. Young people learn about alcohol from an early age within the home by good example. These groups would all agree that it's better to learn about alcohol in the parents' house than in the fraternity house.
Posted by Richard at January 17, 2007 5:52 AM
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