Three minutes. Three minutes of tolerance was all it would take to declare their support and compliance to the constitutional ideal of Freedom of Religion. But no, it was too much to ask of the Christian commissioners and their supporters who flooded the room and entryway. Wailing and gnashing of teeth have nothing on the antics of the Christians gathered to protest the invocation delivered by the representative of the Satanic Temple.
Hail Satan
The mere mention of the word Satan whips Christians into a frenzy, exactly as it was meant to do. Is there no one who recognizes the test, the one they spectacularly failed? The excuse? The Satanic Temple is not really a religion, they don’t even believe in God. The Supreme Court ruled (2005 Kaufman V. McCaughtry), a religion does not have to be theistic. Atheistic beliefs are just as valid as Christian beliefs – except in Ottawa County.
The invocation as recorded here in the following video, is mildly humanistic and should not be wildly controversial except for the rather juvenile hail-satan salute at the end. For a religion that does not believe in Satan, then why salute him? The gesture is reminiscent of a middle finger to Christians.
It does not take the Satanic Temple to rile the faithful, Reverend Jared Cramer of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Grand Haven had to take his case to court to be given the chance to deliver his three minute invocation. You might think a fellow Christian would be treated better, but Cramer’s support of the LGBTQ community earned him a visible protest by Commissioner Roger Belknap.
It would remiss to ignore the fact it took a court case for the Commissioners to allow anyone other than their handpicked representatives to participate. Some have already voiced their preference to return to their previous non Freedom of Religious ways.
Had the Commissioners and supporters been able to contain themselves, the invocation would have gone largely unnoticed. Instead they reacted, as they usually do, with prejudice and malice. Commissioner Rebekah Curran gave a prayer during public comments, of the 45 people who spoke around two dozen gave Christian messages, denounced the invocation, or read passages from the Bible. A wooden cross bearer declared the board allowed worship to a false idol and reparation must be made. Huh? Another said I do not believe in the separation of church and state, and another claimed only Christianity is protected by the First Amendment.
One might think, faced with a controversial invocation most Christians found unpleasant, the rest of the meeting would strive to avoid other unnecessary controversial topics. You would be wrong!
Resolution to Promote Life
The so called Resolution to Promote Life adopted by the Commissioners is outside of their jurisdiction and their authority. The county does not provide abortions or assistance for abortions, and yet they felt it necessary to inflict their blatant ideology on all residents of Ottawa County regardless of their opinions regarding bodily autonomy. The resolution is included below. Note the controversial proclamation of fetus personhood, a concept as inaccurate and extreme as the hail-satan salute.
WHEREAS, medical and scientific evidence establishes the beginning of a human being’s life cycle to be at fertilization. Children are persons before birth, sharing all the basic attributes of human personality. Preborn children have morally and legally protectable interests in life, health, personal security, and well-being;
Again, this proclamation has nothing to do with Ottawa County governance and everything to do with promoting a religious ideology that is as inaccurate and problematic as the long held religious belief that the world is flat (a misconception still believed by some religious groups) . While indelicate, an accurate scientific description of a fetus is a parasite totally dependent on its host until the time of birth, whenever or however birth is achieved. Historically a baby is born and no manipulation of words to the contrary will make it otherwise.
This description of procreation will be shocking to the religious who seem to abhor the act of fertilization but describe the result as a miracle from God and a blessing. Biology is indeed miraculous but also perilous. Even with modern medicine over one thousand women die in child birth each year. Women’s health should never be at the whim of politicians or anyone else for that matter. The very idea the mother’s health and well being is subjugated by the fetus she carries is ridiculous and abhorrent. Can we not agree every child brought into this world should be healthy, wanted, and well cared for? The decision to make that happen must be left in the hands of the parents.
The Ottawa County commissioners are also in direct conflict with the State of Michigan constitution and the 2023 Reproductive Health Act which guarantees abortion is treated like all health care, with regulations that reflect current medical standards.
Once again the Ottawa Impact commissioners prove themselves to be more interested in spreading their particular flavor of Christian ideology than representing all of the residents of Ottawa County. Their continued passing of unnecessary and unlawful resolutions promoting their personal beliefs is divisive.
And so Commissioners and Christian Nationalists of Ottawa County, isn’t it time for you to open your eyes and realize the that your constant promotion of your personal biases and prejudices are just as divisive and unwelcome as the hail Satan you protested?
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Matthew 7:3
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