The good people of Hobbs, New Mexico are
under siege from a Wisconsin-based group of atheists, agnostics and
free-thinkers who are angry that gospel songs were performed during a
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day program.
“It is laudable that the city is celebrating Dr. King and promoting
unity within the community,” Freedom From Religion Foundation legal
fellow Christopher Line wrote in a letter to city leaders. “However,
including gospel music and religious messages in the celebration is
inappropriate.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a Wisconsin-based group of
atheists, agnostics and free-thinkers that are on a mission to eradicate
Christianity from the public square.
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On Jan. 15 the city hosted a MLK Day march and program at Booker T.
Washington Elementary School. The program was advertised as “an
opportunity to display hope and faith.”
FFRF said they were contacted by a “concerned resident” who discovered
the celebration included “religious music performed by a gospel choir
and numerous speakers that made reference to God and Jesus.”
“Officials are not permitted to lend credibility or prestige to religion
by including religious messages in city events,” Line wrote in the
letter to city leaders. “We urge you to cease including religious music
and messages in official Hobbs events.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is apparently unaware that Dr. King
was not just a Civil Rights leader – but he was also a renowned Baptist
minister – a preacher of the Gospel.
It’s beyond ludicrous that anyone would take issue with religious
overtones and gospel songs performed during a ceremony honoring a former
Christian minister.
“This letter is a gross, intolerant display of anti-religious bigotry
over the celebration of a man who dedicated his life to fighting
injustice,” First Liberty Institute attorney Michael Berry told the Todd
Starnes Radio Show.
First Liberty Institute, one of the nation’s most prominent religious
liberty law firms, accused the atheists of being intolerant.
“No court has ever declared a ceremony observing Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day unconstitutional because it featured a gospel choir and religious
language similar to those of the civil rights leaders,” Berry said. |
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