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town’s July Fourth activities would begin at noon, allowing the majority of the morning’s religious activities to be concluded. But recent notices have placed the beginning of these activities at 11 a.m. or even 10 a.m.
And why should this not be so? After all, one of the freedoms of this country is the freedom from coercive involvement in religion, freedom from having to bend one’s conscience to the personal religious convictions of another.
Perhaps I may propose a reason for waiting. Though not the only purpose, the desire for religious freedom by a wide variety of people was an important part of the settling and founding of this nation. The religious community is a vital part of the larger community. The churches join in welcoming the Fourth of July and the visitors who will be here. My own church wants to make them comfortable by offering casual-dress services. Furthermore, the backbone of many of the local civic and social organizations is made up of people with religious convictions.
I therefore ask at least our local individuals and organizations to wait to begin their activities and not to compel their members to choose between religious conviction and fundraising. And I ask those who are made to so choose to delay their
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