I’ve been working as a communications assistant at Americans United for Separation of Church and State for just about a week now, and already I have learned a lot. TV preacher Pat Robertson, for example, informed me (along with all the viewers of his “700 Club”) that he is not a gynecologist, and Religious Right radio host Janet Folger likened my new boss, the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, to a Nazi Brownshirt.
I come to Americans United from American University where I was a student of religion, politics and justice. During my college education, I studied the history of religion across the world, professors mused about whether our society is the same one James Madison and Thomas Jefferson envisioned and my classmates seemed to know more about the legislature than half the representatives on the Hill.
However, each field of study remained distinctly within its department, and I rarely thought about where they intersect — after all, why should my studies about the Holy Roman Empire or Joseph Caro have any impact on my study of the Warren Court?
Yet, on my first day here at AU, I was handed a book from the First Freedom First project. On the cover there is a picture of a lonely street pole at the intersection of Church Street and State Street — a corner I anticipate becoming intimately involved with.
During my first week, most of my time has been spent reading up on the Religious Right and tuning in to some Religious Right broadcasts, and trust me, there’s a lot to tackle.
Robertson, who asserts himself as an unmatched authority on the Bible as well as a superlative expert on politics, also dabbles in financial and fitness advice. In response to a viewer’s question during a weekly “Skinny Wednesday” segment, Robertson proclaimed that while he is not a gynecologist, he is certain that women can still lose extra pounds during menopause.
Folger, in discussing the Alliance Defense Fund’s so-called “Preacher’s Revolt,” insisted on the “right” of clergy to endorse candidates from their tax-exempt pulpits. She asserted that because AU has asked the IRS to investigate a limited number of houses of worship for church electioneering, Lynn should be likened to a 1940s war criminal.
I wish Pat would stick to the Bible rather than play doctor (which he knows little about) or politician (where his shrill rhetoric and Christian Coalition-style antics have caused so much mischief). Also, I wish Janet would recognize that patriotism is defined, in part, by serving as a guardian of our laws and liberties. Rev. Lynn is nothing short of a patriot for insisting upon equal protection under the law.
I’ve also received lots of emails from both supporters and opponents of church-state separation. Some of our critics have a colorful vocabulary and imagination to say the least.
My predecessor, Lauren, advised me not to be surprised by the communications coming into our office from our adversaries. “You’ll see and hear a lot of crazy things,” she warned. I have a feeling that despite her most sincere efforts to prepare me for my new job — I’m going to spend a lot of my first few months here in shock.
I also foresee a maelstrom of new information and new battles — to help keep Florida free of school vouchers, for example, and Louisiana public schools free of “faith-based” science classes.
I’m so excited to be starting my first out of college job in a wonderful work environment filled with brilliant and interesting people fighting for a preeminent cause: to retain liberty, equality and separation of church and state in what seems to be a pretty dangerous era.
By Ilana Stern
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