GUEST COLUMN, Rosemary Mai, Salina
Freedom of religion and freedom of speech are not favors handed down by Washington. They are rights — foundational, God-given rights — recognized in our Constitution to ensure that no government, no matter how powerful, can strip them away.
And yet, new proposals in Congress would do exactly that. Cloaked in the language of “reform” and “accountability,” these measures would empower federal agencies to decide which churches, charities, or community groups are allowed to operate. If an organization’s beliefs don’t align with the prevailing politics of the day, it could face audits, frozen donations, or even the loss of its tax-exempt status.
That’s not accountability. That’s control.
Across Kansas and beyond, churches and nonprofits are the beating heart of our communities. They run food pantries, offer counseling, mentor young people, and open their doors when disaster strikes. These are not political stunts; they are acts of conscience, born from conviction and compassion. To suggest that such service must pass a Washington litmus test is to misunderstand what freedom means.
Imagine telling a pastor in Wichita that he needs federal approval before opening his church to feed the hungry. Imagine telling a mentoring program in Manhattan that teaching responsibility is “too political.” Imagine threatening a pregnancy center in Topeka because its mission doesn’t align with the government’s cultural priorities. These aren’t far-fetched hypotheticals — they are the logical consequence of letting unelected bureaucrats judge the consciences of ordinary Americans.
History teaches us a clear lesson: when the government decides which voices are allowed, dissent is silenced. Abolitionists, suffragists, and civil rights leaders were once unpopular. Had Washington held the power it now seeks, many of those voices could have been extinguished before they ever made history. Silencing those with whom we disagree has never been the American way; protecting controversial opinions has always been the test of our liberty.
True democracy does not mean uniformity of thought — it means upholding the ability to disagree without fear of retribution. Accountability comes from people who hold leaders responsible, not from politicians wielding power over pulpits or community service organizations. When Washington positions itself as the arbiter of what constitutes “acceptable” belief, it betrays the very principles it was meant to defend.
The danger of these new federal proposals is not just their immediate effect, but the precedent they would set. If faith-based service must now pass through a government filter, what prevents future leaders from narrowing that filter even further? Today, it may be churches and nonprofits that are targeted. Tomorrow, it could be small businesses, advocacy groups, or even individuals who dare to voice convictions out of step with the prevailing winds of Washington politics.
Our country was built on the understanding that liberty does not come from government — it comes from God, and government’s role is to secure it, not redefine it. The First Amendment was written not to protect the popular, but to protect the principled. Its purpose is not to silence, but to shield. That is why these freedoms must remain beyond the reach of political convenience.
There are two options before us. We can allow Washington to gradually erode our freedoms until only the approved voices remain, or we can insist that our freedoms are not to be infringed. We can let bureaucrats redefine service as a public threat, or we can stand firm and defend the right of every American to live out their convictions. One path leads to tyranny and submission; the other leads to freedom and accountability to others.
Faith and freedom are not negotiable. They are the bedrock of our nation, the lifeblood of our communities, and the promise we owe to the next generation. Washington must hear us clearly: the right to speak, to worship, and to serve belongs to the people — not the government.
