Freedom Writer - June 1995 [ref001] Contract on the American family By Skipp Porteous On M

Freedom Writer - June 1995

[ref001]

Contract on the American family

By Skipp Porteous

On May 17, Ralph Reed unveiled the Christian Coalition's Contract 
with the American Family, a 10-point legislative proposal to supplement 
Newt Gingrich's Contract with America. Although it appears innocuous, 
the contract subtly introduces Pat Robertson's radical agenda for 
America. Briefly, the 10 points of the contract are:

	_
	Religious equality
	Local control of education
	School choice
	Family-friendly tax policy
	Restoring respect for human life
	Restricting pornography
	Privatizing federal funding of culture
	Support for private charities
	Protecting parental rights
	Punishing criminals, not victims
	_

Back in 1984, speaking at Robert Tilton's Word of Faith World Outreach 
church in Dallas, Pat Robertson outlined his plan for a reconstructed 
Christian America.

"I want you to imagine a land where little children pray in schools, 
and they read the Bible to them and they're taught the things of God...there 
are no more abortions ...where the prisons are virtually empty... 
there is no need for a great big police force... workers and managers 
respect each other as children of God...the church members have taken 
dominion over the forces of the world."

Christian Reconstructionist thought advocates a theocracy in which 
the Bible rules every aspect of society. Sin is not allowed. When 
laws are broken, criminals either make restitution for lesser offenses 
or are executed for capital offenses, eliminating the need for prisons.

"We're going to see a society where people are living godly and moral 
lives," Robertson continued while describing his agenda. Christians 
"will be the head and not the tail... education of the young is going 
to be in the hands of godly people..."

"Imagine a time," he said, "when...the people of God will be the most 
honored people in society...when the pornographers no longer have 
any access to the public whatsoever... where there is no more of that 
stuff on our newsstands or anyplace else..." And, "when those who 
are supposed to serve are honest, honorable, Jesus-loving human beings..."

Robertson's agenda leaves no room for non-Christians in education, 
religion, health, business, entertainment, or politics. It embraces 
a nation run by Christians - Robertson's kind of Christians. In conclusion 
he said that his plan "may sound like a fairy tale...but God will 
do it."

Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition Contract with the American Family 
calls for "religious equality" by allowing voluntary prayers in public 
schools. In fact, the First Amendment already protects children who 
desire to pray in public school.

The contract calls for taxpayer money in the form of vouchers so parents 
can send their children to private religious schools of their choice. 
The only "choice" in the notion of school choice is that the private 
schools can choose who they will accept and who they will reject. 
Public funding for education should be limited to secular public schools 
under full public control. 

The contract calls for drastic restrictions on abortion, including 
defunding Planned Parenthood and other groups that offer birth control 
and abortion counseling. This would make it difficult for poor women 
to obtain family planning services.

The contract calls for criminals to make restitution to their victims. 
While this may be feasible in some cases, in many cases it would be 
totally impractical.

The contract calls for greater restrictions on pornography. As obscenity 
is already illegal, one must assume that the Christian Coalition will 
define pornography for us. While sexual exploitation is loathsome, 
censorship is undesirable in a free society.

First, so-called "religious equality"; then, religion rules. 	

First, taxpayer money for religious schools; then, abolish public 
schools.

First, greater restrictions on abortion; then, abolish abortion.

First, have some criminals make restitution to their victims; then, 
execute the rest of them.

First, greater restrictions on pornography; then, abolish free speech.

If implemented, the Christian Coalition's Contract with the American 
Family will bring this nation another step closer to fulfilling Pat 
Robertson's vision for America.

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Copyright 1995 IFAS
The Freedom Writer / ifas@crocker.com

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