Former Florida Governor and prospective GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush criticized “small-minded and intolerant” religious liberty opponents while giving the commencement speech at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA on Saturday.
Jeb argued the left has been falsely casting “religious Americans as intolerant scolds, running around trying to impose their views on everyone. The stories vary year after year, but the storyline is getting familiar. The progressive political agenda is ready for its great — next great leap forward. And religious people or churches are getting in the way. Our friends on the left like to view themselves as the agents of change and reform, and you and I are supposed to just get with the program. There are consequences when you don’t genuflect to the latest secular dogmas.”
He then cited examples such as pastors in Houston being asked to turn over their sermons, and the Little Sisters of the Poor from before adding, “From the standpoint of religious freedom, you might even say it’s a choice between the Little Sisters and big brother. And I’m going with the Little Sisters. That case continues, and, as usual, the present administration is supporting the use of coercive federal power. What should be easy calls in favor of religious freedom have instead become an aggressive stance against it. Somebody here is being small-minded and intolerant, and it sure isn’t the nuns, ministers, and laymen and women who ask only to live and practice their faith. Federal authorities are demanding obedience and complete disregard of religious conscience, and in a free society, the answer is no.”
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett
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