Religious Persecution in Indiana?

Why? Why would a state like Indiana, an area steeped in mid-western common sense values, pass a law reaffirming religious values? Have there been some incidents of religious persecution I had not heard about?

Were Jews rounded up and sent to a FEMA camp outside of Gary?

No.

Were Muslims executed for crimes of faith in the public square in downtown Indianapolis?

No.

Were Christians fed to the lions in Muncie?

No.

Somebody somewhere in the state felt that it was time to protect someone’s religious freedom if they chose not to bake a cake for someone who’s “lifestyle” offended their beliefs.

Oh, no!

Make no mistake; the first three examples above are religious persecution.   

The last example is allowing one’s bigotry and prejudice to overcome their cherished religious beliefs to countermand religion’s original intentions. Namely, promote peace and good will among all mankind.

Seriously, at least I think that was the original intention.

Indiana Governor Pence emerged from his 1950s era bunker - which is obviously impervious to signals that similar legislation was tried in other areas and created firestorms of controversy - and signed the bill. Later, he argued, with a straight face (no pun intended), that he did not believe the law was discriminatory.

A multitude of businesses disagreed, and began pulling business and conventions out of the state at speeds faster that A.J. Foyt ever reached in the home stretch of the Indy 500. We’re not talking a few bucks here or there; we’re talking millions of dollars leaving the state with vows to not come back until the legislation is either amended, or (better yet) repealed.

The law as it now stands (the governor and the state legislature are supposedly working on tweaking the law by the end of the week) could backfire even more than anyone can imagine. Critics are now charging that the law protects businesses from refusing to do business with members of the gay community. As it now stands, what’s to stop an ultra-conservative Christian business person from refusing to do business with any person who does not profess the Christian faith? Actually, nothing is stopping them under the law now in effect.

Sure, go ahead and refuse service to Jews! Good luck with that! The Nazis in Germany tried it 80 years ago, bringing untold tragedy down on themselves as well as European Jewry.

News flash: this law offends the beliefs of many people who use common sense more than any organized religion to guide their lives. This law is bad and is not an April fool joke!

I hope the governor makes good on his promise. If the law is repealed by the end of the week, then it really will be a Good Friday.

(Thank you for reading. Cake sounds good right now…)