Tim Wildmon
AFA president
March 2004 – The “religious right” we are called. Some political pundits call us “America’s Taliban.” We are social conservatives – mostly evangelicals and Roman Catholics – that the liberals in the country can’t stand. And they – along with Hollywood – do everything they can to try to make us look scary to the rest of America.
I want to see if I can make a logical case for why people like me have just as much right as any other American to participate in the political process. This really should not be an issue, but I think many people have bought into the idea – propagated by left- wing organizations and many in the media – that because evangelicals (and conservative Catholics) do speak out and get involved in politics/government, that somehow we are a threat to those who do not subscribe to our views – especially on what are commonly referred to as “social” or “moral” issues. That somehow we want to turn our country into a theocracy. In others words, we may not look dangerous, but we are really not any different from Islamic fundamentalists in that we want to force everyone to obey our own code of morality and view of the Bible or suffer the consequences.
Ever heard someone say, “You can’t legislate morality”? Most of us have. But if you think about it, that is really one of those statements that – and Bill Clinton would love this – is both true and false at the same time. It depends on what one means when one uses the statement.
If you mean you can’t change a man’s heart with the law alone, I would agree. But, if you mean you can’t impose with the law someone’s or some group’s definition of right and wrong behavior, then I would disagree. And isn’t that the definition of the word morality? The American Heritage Dictionary says morality is: “A system of conduct based on principles of right and wrong.” And isn’t that what lawmakers do every day? They look at what society deems as right or wrong – acceptable and unacceptable – and then they make a law to reflect that. If I break a law, the law enforcement arm of government brings an appropriate punishment.
So the idea that “you can’t legislate morality” really is not true. The Mississippi legislature decided a few years back that I couldn’t drive more than 70 miles an hour on Hwy. 78 from Tupelo to Memphis. I really would like to drive 80. But the legislature has imposed its morality on me. They took away my freedom to choose the speed I would like to drive. Why? They did it in the interest of protecting my life and the lives of others because our system – based on Christian values – teaches that all life is precious.
This is just one example of legislating morality.
This year’s election cycle is another crucial one. Christians must be informed and weigh in. And we can’t let people off the hook just because they are Republican. While President Bush has been very good on some of the moral/social issues like judicial appointments, he has not been as good when it comes to fighting the homosexual agenda. And this is critical. He, and other political candidates who call themselves conservative, need to be held accountable by the people who support them and the people from whom they seek support. President Bush needs to fully support the Federal Marriage Amendment to the United States Constitution. In the State of the Union speech he said he would support the measure if it became necessary. But the dye has already been cast on this issue with the Massachusetts Supreme Court’s decision to legalize homosexual marriage late in 2003. The time for President Bush to lead on this is now. As of this writing, his office has said he will make an announcement this month.
Please pray for President Bush specifically on this matter. I believe he is a Christian, but sometimes I wonder about who he has advising him.
You can contact Mr. Bush in the following ways:
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov
White House comments phone lines : 202-456-1111 or 202-456-6213 
