Beth McKee-Huger: My take on freedom of religion – Greensboro News & Record

Our new president and I are both concerned about freedom of religion. He wants an end to the prohibition against churches and nonprofits getting involved in partisan politics and candidate campaigns. I am appalled that people are barred from reuniting with families or beginning new lives in America because of the religion of the majority of people in their countries.

He is adamant that keeping out all refugees and persons from seven countries is necessary for security. I am confident that, while some churches and nonprofits would use this rule change to support Trumps choice of candidate, many others may become more vocal in their insistence on welcoming, transparency and protection of Gods creation.

Steve Bannon, the presidents chief strategist, who engineered the executive order suddenly banning entrance to the U.S., is critical of Pope Francis because the pope preaches Gods love for all, rather than just those selected by Mr. Bannon. (If he thinks the pope is nave, he may want to talk to the popes boss, Jesus.) Freedom for government to meddle in religion as well as for religion to get involved in partisan politics?

The terrifying travel ban reminded me of my own experience being detained. In 1985 President Reagan issued a ban on travel by U.S. citizens to Nicaragua, one week before my mission trip there for Habitat for Humanity. I changed my reservations to fly through Costa Rica but on the return flight authorities in Costa Rica interrogated me, confiscated items from my luggage and held my passport. After delaying the flight, they finally returned my passport but at the U.S. border I was questioned again before U.S. Customs finally let me through.

Of course, this was mild compared to what people face now but a reminder that even U.S. citizenship and white privilege and Christian faith do not protect from suspicion if one is not approved by our government. I suppose building homes in rural Nicaragua was considered a threat to the U.S., perhaps similar to the perceived danger posed now by refugees fleeing violence, family members returning from visits to home countries and international scholars. The U.S. government (and airport authorities in other countries implementing U.S. bans) decided it cant be too careful.

Obsession with security, growing out of fear, views those different from us as enemies. My faith says that we love our enemies even politicians who dont acknowledge that any of their constituents have different positions. Caring for each other is the foundation of other religions, as well, and is a key value for many people who espouse no religion. Not that we ignore safety concerns but that we seek to overcome dangers and differences by building relationships with all of Gods children.

To put that into practice in Greensboro, we are welcoming refugees, building bridges between leaders of many faiths, working for racial reconciliation, feeding the hungry and housing those experiencing homelessness, raising up a new generation of peacemakers, and reconnecting life-long activists. Almost daily, we are distracted by another distressing outburst, conflict of interest, alternative fact, or confirmation of appointees whose main qualification is readiness to dismantle protection of most of Gods children. Our day-to-day progress in community partnerships is set against the backdrop of chaos and divisions that tear apart the fabric of democracy.

Now even our deepest faith is drawn into the partisan fray where we are supposed to assume that God is on our partys side. Instead, let us seek Gods will for all of Gods world, sharing across the divides of religion and party.

Beth McKee-Huger is an Episcopal deacon, housing advocate and News & Record Town Hall community columnist.

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Beth McKee-Huger: My take on freedom of religion - Greensboro News & Record