Religious Persecution — American Style
Few, if any, could imagine the government of this country sponsoring, permitting, or having anything to do with religious persecution. Why, everyone knows that this nation was founded on the principle of freedom of religious expression without government interference nor government persecution. That principle has been violated, however, by a common pleas court in the state of Ohio. Please note the following:
Akron, Ohio (AP) — A common pleas court jury awarded a Cleveland electrician damages totaling $30,000 against the Radio Church of God, two of its officials and its ministerial colleges for alienation of his wife's affections. Melvin E. Bradesku charged that the church, officials and college, "by radio, literature and private counseling," advised his wife, Isabel, their marriage was "adulterous" because he had been married before and divorced."
Can you imagine the consequences of such a precedent? Now one can be fined by a court of law for teaching another the truth of God's word. If one party to a marriage rejects the truth on the subject of divorce/remarriage while the other party accepts it the one who taught the truth is liable for alienation of affections. Teaching the Word can now be a costly proposition.
It is rather amusing to note the form of persecution endorsed by at least this one court of law. It did not endorse physical abuse but rather it endorsed the one thing that would most hurt the average person in this sin-sick society of ours. The punishment is aimed to hurt where one is hurt the hardest — right in the pocketbook. Truly, it is a case of religious persecution — AMERICAN STYLE.
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