So, Now We Have the Attorney General Violating

[MineralMan]

the First Amendment and quoting the Bible as justification for kidnapping and incarcerating children of migrants.

This is what it has come to. This is what a theonomy looks like.

Where is the outrage from the Christian community for such a misuse of the Bible and such a break from America's founding principles? Where are the comments from theists and other Christians in this Religion Group?

It what Sessions said alright with you all? Is it OK for our government to justify such things by quoting a verse from Romans?

Feh! That's what I say.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Sessions is the AG, not SOS, which is even worse

because he is the head of the DoJ. I’ve read a number of outraged comments from clergy, but not the evangelicals, of course.

[MineralMan]

2. Oops. Corrected. I was too pissed off.

My mistake.

[shraby]

3. That was my first thought. A violation of church/state separation of the first magnitude.

Haven't heard the talking heads pick up on that yet, most have been criticizing the use of the quote from the bible in relationship to what he was trying to say it said, not that it was totally and terribly wrong in relationship to the constitution.

[MineralMan]

4. These days, nobody seems to pay any attention to that.

We're rapidly moving toward a right-wing Christian theonomy. We'd better pay attention. If we don't insist on our rights, we won't have them pretty soon. Where are the Christian leaders? Why are they silent about this outrageous thing?

[Voltaire2]

10. Its abhorrent but I'm not sure it's a 1st amendment

violation. Politicians reference the bible a lot.

[MineralMan]

12. Using the Bible to justify a particular government action, however,

is precisely a violation of the First Amendment.

[Voltaire2]

17. But all he really said was the Bible says obey the law.

It is hard for me to see how that violates the religion establishment clause.

Please note I think what they are doing to families seeking asylum is horrendous.

[shraby]

18. That's not something he's supposed to be saying to justify the decision he makes as Attorney General

[Voltaire2]

19. How is it substantially different than biblical references by presidents

in, for example, state of the union speeches?

[shraby]

21. The most I've heard in the state of the union was at the end of the speech. God bless America.

I don't remember hearing the bible used as an excuse for policy.

[Igel]

22. It's not an excuse for policy.

It's why the policy isn't contrary to scripture--which was the argument he was countering, and since it was a religious argument made *against* him/the policy and the argument was made in a religious setting, it was religious. Don't see a problem. Answer a fool according to his folly.

At the same time, it cannot be a first amendment issue:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

Not Congress.

Not a law being made. Not even a regulation being promulgated. No justification of the policy itself. Just that God says to obey the laws. I suppose because the word "God" is in the sentence it's a trigger for some.

[Voltaire2]

23. Worse, it deliberately obscures the real issue

which is that the policy is abhorrent. Instead of focusing on the policy, Sessions, coached no doubt by the spin doctors, has reframed the issue as God’s Only Party doing God’s work, and we have taken the bait.

[Voltaire2]

25. Wonder-working power.

George Bush state of the union, a phrase that has specific theological meaning with evangelicals.

Here is an interesting read on the subject: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jesus/president/invoking.html

[Pope George Ringo II]

5. What's the appropriate punishment?

Not fire him? There's just no bright spot here.

[MineralMan]

7. An outpouring of condemnation from Christians and their leaders would help.

Instead, all we get is silence. I guess nobody's concerned about this. I'm thoroughly pissed off, but I'm an atheist, so nobody is interested in my concern.

[Pope George Ringo II]

9. Be fair. I'm sure we have their thoughts and prayers.

[Act_of_Reparation]

6. "Misuse of the Bible"?

Not so sure about the misuse part. We're talking about a book that fully endorses slavery.

[MineralMan]

8. Sessions is just cherry-picking it.

There are plenty of verses that make it clear than harming children is a bad thing. He chose a passage that says we must do whatever the government says.

The real problem is his use of the Bible at all in discussing laws and treatment of migrants. We are not a Bible-based nation. That's the outrageous offense.

[Lordquinton]

15. The pope will argue with you on those too

After all, it's a beautiful thing to hit a child, just not on the face.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/06/pope-francis-parents-ok-smack-children-dignity

[Act_of_Reparation]

16. Yeah, but so is everyone else.

There are also passages instructing parents to kill disobedient children. Following one set of rules necessarily excludes the other, and whichever one chooses to follow invariably boils down to one's personal preference.

But that's neither here nor there. We both agree the real problem here is a high-ranking US official citing the mad ramblings of bronze age shepherds as pretext for civil law is a huge step in the wrong direction, no matter what that law might be.

[duforsure]

11. When this is over I hope

What he said about the law is played back to him before his sentencing from the judge.

[Lordquinton]

14. That's when we get all the quotes about forgiveness

And moving on. Turn the other cheek!

[The Genealogist]

13. The whole affair is sickening

It makes me ill that morally bankrupt people are treating children inhumanely. It makes me ill that they are injecting their religion into their legal rationale for said shocking acts. And, scores of Christians think it is just ginger peachy to do both. The law of this country is the constitution, not the Bible.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

20. This was the passage used to justify slavery.

But no Republican will care.

[Mariana]

24. It wasn't the only passage used that way, not by a long shot.

There are plenty of Bible verses that directly or indirectly promote the practice of slavery specifically, and don't rely on some vague admonition to obey the local authorities and laws.

The fine Christians who are in favor of this have probably convinced themselves that the parents are evil and that the kids are better off away from them.

[gibraltar72]

26. I assume there are some good christians

I am utterly amazed they haven't made an effort to salvage their brand. Perhaps there are so few that they are afraid to speak out. As a recovering evangelical I am stunned that efforts are so feeble.

[Pope George Ringo II]

27. When christianity sends its people, they're not sending the best.

They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems.