Letter to the Editor: If my religious liberties are in jeopardy, then technically so are yours

Secretary Clinton cannot have it both ways regarding the WikiLeaks hacking claims.  It either did or did not happen.  Her response to the “public and private face” she had an answer too.  But we are being told other leaks are from “Russia.”  

Some of these leaks have come from her most inner circle.  An inner circle whose words have become extremely derogatory towards Catholics and Evangelicals.  In order to preserve the religious liberties I hold dearly, I must err on the side of caution and now speak to now protect them.

If my religious liberties are in jeopardy, then technically so are yours.  During my tiny little existence in this world, I have had many experiences of love, hope, joy, and charity.  Many of such are religious experiences that tie us together including baptisms, bar mitzvahs, weddings, funerals, ordinations of Catholic priests and Protestants ministers, among many others.  I have experienced Catholics, and Muslims peacefully share their beliefs with one another, including a journey after death.  My shared beliefs with friends have been put into action by helping to organize a bar mitzvah party, and to light candles under a statute of Our Lady of Fatima for the “journey” of both Muslims and Catholics.  If Catholics and Evangelicals are under attack today – then what religion, person, organization, institution, group, or country tomorrow?

A vote for Donald Trump, a flawed person as we all are, is now a vote for all religious liberties.  If we begin to chip away at our first amendment, the second will follow.  After the number one comes the number two, and so on.  Once our religious liberties have been taken from us, next will be our right to bear arms. 

Our religious ideologies are part of our great country and her diversity. Please help me to be allowed to continue to pray on my knees for God, family, and country.  Peace.

Cathy McCoart
Montclair