March/April 2004

“To preserve freedom of conscience for all its citizens in matters of religious faith and belief, Washington’s constitution limits the involvement of government. It limits both the ability to regulate religious activities and to fund religious activities.” With that statement, Narda Pierce, attorney for the State of Washington, began oral arguments in one of the most significant church-state cases of recent years.

What is the cost of discipleship? It cost Joshua Davey $2,500 when he decided to declare a major in pastoral studies.

The question has an almost obvious answer: Yes, a book can, given enough circulation and acceptance, harm religious freedom. Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf, the literary “work” of a frustrated artist and World War I veteran, remains a perverse inspiration to those who cherish hatred. Its publication prepared the way for the National Socialists in Germany, leading to 12 years of terror in Europe and the death of millions.

In July of last year advertisements appeared in the newspapers of Rhode Island and Maine showing a courtroom door with a sign reading “Catholics Need Not Apply.” The ads had been placed by an organization called the Committee for Justice (CFJ), which is led by C. Boyden Gray, former White House counsel to President George H. W. Bush.

What is likely the most controversial movie of this year doesn’t come with the usual suspects. It doesn’t feature some searing inside look at crime or crackheads; it’s not about kinky sex or twisted relationships. It’s about a 2,000-year-old itinerant rabbi named Jesus.