In God We Trust?

scott_garrettThe Tragic Case of NJ Congressman Scott Garrett

Christian liberty sacrificed at the altar of greed; it’s a tragic tale in which corporate America defines a new arbitrary moral code.

At the center of the most notable example of a political system run amuck, alleged ‘social extremist,’ Scott Garrett, became the latest and most surprising casualty of the new LGBT-driven civil standard. Ironically, Garrett, who chairs the Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises Subcommittee and has perpetually given Wall Street a regulatory easy pass, was thrown under the bus by those he faithfully served. The seven-term Republican incumbent lost his funding, his support, and ultimately his lock on his Fifth Congressional District re-election bid to Democratic challenger, Josh Gottheimer.

Garrett–who happens to be a staunch religious conservative–found himself caught between two masters and was devoured by a monster that he, himself, empowered. His outspoken defense of traditional marriage rendered him necessarily expendable in the eyes of the big business/wall street types that keep the campaign money flowing.  Corporations are now driving public policy and solidifying social mores while the average freedom-loving citizen is being hung out to dry. Since when did big business become the authority on social values and moral principles? Should they be driving and setting such standards? Improper use of money and power has poisoned a political system supposedly authorized by the will of the people to set public policy.

Back in February of this year, American Conservative’s Rod Dreher referenced Garrett’s precarious predicament while noting how…

“Christians had better read the handwriting on the wall here—House and Senate Republicans have no intention of taking up legislation to defend religious liberty–It’s too risky to their campaign donations to be seen by Wall Street and Big Business as–‘social extremists.’ If you think the–Party is going to protect our right to be wrong on this issue, you are lying to yourself—Even if they wanted to get religious liberty legislation passed, they don’t have the Congressional Republicans on board—if you think voting Republican is going to protect us, you’re living in a dream world.—Christians desperately need to understand the deeper dynamics at work in the culture–a culture in which affirming–Christian beliefs about homosexuality is a disqualifying bar for holding national office.”

In many ways, the political Christian has unconsciously sacrificed his moral influence and faithful witness for monetary gain. The god of capitalism is prevailing and leaving a multitude of conscientious Christians in its wake. The civil sphere has been deemed no place for Christian principles as its true adherents are swiftly being cast out.

Woodrow Wilcox

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Big Business is putting a stake in the heart of the right sided culture warrior. In their eyes, we either fall in line or earn our fate – bigoted outcast.

What kind of table turning effect could an alliance with American Muslims (alongside orthodox Jews) have for the cause of religious liberty here in the States?

WoodrowWilcox.com

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Why should the truly religious perpetually find itself on the outside, and perceivably wrong side, of this new litmus? Will there be a place for us even on the fringes of society?

This country was founded first and foremost on religious freedom. Political reform will only be realized when religious reforms find their true emphasis and proper place. Silence is never an option. Eventually the stones will cry out.


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A.J. Castellitto is a freelance writer who resides in NJ with his wife and five children. He holds a B.S. in Counseling and Human Services from the University of Scranton and his writings have been published at The Center for Western Journalism, The Christian Post, Intellectual Conservative and Reformed Perspective Magazine.
A.J. Castellitto
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  • Shibby

    The Republican Party and its activists pushed Citizens United all the way through the Supreme Court. They wanted corporations to be empowered more than the average American. Actions do have consequences. Scott Garrett was standing arm-in-arm with other social conservatives applauding the efforts to remove corporate campaign restrictions.

    This should be a lesson to all that a dagger has two sharps sides.

    • Actually, all conservatives wanted was the same liberties (property rights and freedom of speech) that were recognized and cherished by the founders. nothing more and nothing less. Unions and media companies can use their financial resources to project their freedom of speech; there is no reason why other organizations should not also be able to use their own property to project their freedom of speech.

      Leftists loathe the exercise of liberty by people they despise. Garrett defended the first freedom protected by the First Amendment: religious liberty, which is perhaps the liberty most loathed by the Left. For that, he had to be targeted and destroyed, regardless of what political letter the liberals in question had after their name.

      • A. Castellitto

        I would like the media, unions and corporate interest out….. Its an actual and ideological pay to play…..Let’s face it, Garrett got burned by those in his pocket….but where’s our represntation? We don t matter cause we are poor man donors? Ron Paul is right

        • You can’t get those interests out of politics without severely curtailing God-given liberties.

          The problem isn’t the interests or even the money itself, but rather the immoral use of that money. Like most things (e.g. guns), the object isn’t immoral and it isn’t the problem; the problem is the immoral use of the object, and that can only be fixed by improving the moral fiber of society…which is precisely what suffers when religious liberty is curtailed.

          Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. – John Adams