The Atheist Voice | We Should All Be Concerned About the Alabama Church Police @TheAtheistVoice | Uploaded May 2017 | Updated October 2024, 3 hours ago.
We Should All Be Concerned About the Alabama Church Police
Hemant Mehta (friendlyatheist.com, patreon.com/Hemant , facebook.com/friendlyatheist)
patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/04/12/alabama-senate-passes-controversial-bill-allowing-church-to-create-its-own-police-force
Alabama legislators are on the verge of passing a bill that would allow a Christian megachurch to create its own police force. Because why pray to God when you have guns and tasers at your disposal, right?
Now maybe you think churches can already do this. After all, if there's a big church near where you live, you may have seen cops directing traffic outside the church on Sunday mornings. But those are almost always off-duty cops who are hired by the church to perform a service. That's legal. That's fine.
This is different. This request was made by Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Vestavia Hills. They want more power than they currently have. And this bill to allow them to create and maintain their own police force has already passed in the State Senate.
The whole premise, though, raises so many questions.
Like why does a church need its own cops? They say it’s “a way to create a safer campus in a fallen world,” but there are a whole host of constitutional concerns.
Does the state have authority over this police force, especially if something goes wrong? And if they do, are they getting entangled in a church matter?
If the police act unlawfully, despite the required training, who has the power to discipline them?
Do they have any power over people who aren't members of the church?
Can you get out of a ticket if you pray with the cop?
Should we be worried that the church police won't take action on someone like the pastor because that might make the church look bad?
Can any religious institution demand its own police force? Would we even be having this conversation if a large mosque wanted a police force? You know Christians would be whining about Sharia Law taking over the country if that ever happened... but Christian Sharia is okay, I guess.
Do the police have to sign statements of faith, pledging their agreement with the church's beliefs?
Can citizens challenge what these cops do? Can they take them to court?
Why can’t the church, like every other organization, just ask for protection when needed?
Would the church police have to abide by government regulations, like anti-discrimination laws?
Are these church police going to check up on members missing a few Sunday services? Are they gonna shake people up if they don't pay their tithes?
One of the state representatives made very clear just how powerful this police force would be. She said they would conduct their own investigations, conduct their own security, and make their own arrests. The only time they'd work with the actual police would be to use their jail cells.
Just like Jesus dreamed of.
You think the police have it rough now? Wait till the church police start making headlines.
Join the conversation. Leave your questions and comments below and we'll try to address them in future videos. Don't forget to subscribe for more!
Also, follow us at ...
twitter.com/atheistvoices
facebook.com/TheAtheistVoices
plus.google.com/u/0/b/106662137332631352312/106662137332631352312/posts/p/pub
theatheistvoice.tumblr.com
theatheistvoice.com
The Atheist Voice provides a platform for discussion for atheist leaders, authors, bloggers, activists, and everybody else who is passionate about atheism, and secularism. Join the discussion by commenting under the videos or submitting video responses. If you'd like to collaborate on this channel or if you'd like to appear in our videos please visit our website www.TheAtheistVoice.com
We Should All Be Concerned About the Alabama Church Police
Hemant Mehta (friendlyatheist.com, patreon.com/Hemant , facebook.com/friendlyatheist)
patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/04/12/alabama-senate-passes-controversial-bill-allowing-church-to-create-its-own-police-force
Alabama legislators are on the verge of passing a bill that would allow a Christian megachurch to create its own police force. Because why pray to God when you have guns and tasers at your disposal, right?
Now maybe you think churches can already do this. After all, if there's a big church near where you live, you may have seen cops directing traffic outside the church on Sunday mornings. But those are almost always off-duty cops who are hired by the church to perform a service. That's legal. That's fine.
This is different. This request was made by Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Vestavia Hills. They want more power than they currently have. And this bill to allow them to create and maintain their own police force has already passed in the State Senate.
The whole premise, though, raises so many questions.
Like why does a church need its own cops? They say it’s “a way to create a safer campus in a fallen world,” but there are a whole host of constitutional concerns.
Does the state have authority over this police force, especially if something goes wrong? And if they do, are they getting entangled in a church matter?
If the police act unlawfully, despite the required training, who has the power to discipline them?
Do they have any power over people who aren't members of the church?
Can you get out of a ticket if you pray with the cop?
Should we be worried that the church police won't take action on someone like the pastor because that might make the church look bad?
Can any religious institution demand its own police force? Would we even be having this conversation if a large mosque wanted a police force? You know Christians would be whining about Sharia Law taking over the country if that ever happened... but Christian Sharia is okay, I guess.
Do the police have to sign statements of faith, pledging their agreement with the church's beliefs?
Can citizens challenge what these cops do? Can they take them to court?
Why can’t the church, like every other organization, just ask for protection when needed?
Would the church police have to abide by government regulations, like anti-discrimination laws?
Are these church police going to check up on members missing a few Sunday services? Are they gonna shake people up if they don't pay their tithes?
One of the state representatives made very clear just how powerful this police force would be. She said they would conduct their own investigations, conduct their own security, and make their own arrests. The only time they'd work with the actual police would be to use their jail cells.
Just like Jesus dreamed of.
You think the police have it rough now? Wait till the church police start making headlines.
Join the conversation. Leave your questions and comments below and we'll try to address them in future videos. Don't forget to subscribe for more!
Also, follow us at ...
twitter.com/atheistvoices
facebook.com/TheAtheistVoices
plus.google.com/u/0/b/106662137332631352312/106662137332631352312/posts/p/pub
theatheistvoice.tumblr.com
theatheistvoice.com
The Atheist Voice provides a platform for discussion for atheist leaders, authors, bloggers, activists, and everybody else who is passionate about atheism, and secularism. Join the discussion by commenting under the videos or submitting video responses. If you'd like to collaborate on this channel or if you'd like to appear in our videos please visit our website www.TheAtheistVoice.com
