Decision To Force Baptist Churches To Get Permits Now Reversed

[Incorruptible]

A group of Missouri Baptists who have gathered every Sunday on the river banks to perform baptisms have been told that they require a permit. The National Park Service wanted them to get a permit and give 48 hours advance notice.

The National Park Service told local churches the permits were needed to “maintain park natural/cultural resources and quality visitor experiences, specific terms and conditions have been established.”

The feds also closed vehicle access to a sandbar along a popular creek in the Ozark Mountains, meaning churches could no longer drive their elderly members to the outdoor baptisms. And to make sure the Baptists behaved, they placed large boulders in the area to block car traffic.
“Like the Baptists and Pentecostals are going to harm natural resources and adversely affect quality visitor experiences by occasionally baptizing new converts?” asked local resident Lewis Leonard. “I can think of a whole lot more activities along the river ways that are not conducive to maintain the natural resources.”

But based on local outrage – and Rep. Smith’s promise to bring the matter before Congress, the Park Service had a change of heart.
“As of today, the park’s policy has been clarified to state that no permit will be required for baptisms within the Riverways,” Supt. William Black wrote in a letter to the congressman. “I can assure you the National Park Service has no intention of limiting the number of baptisms performed within the park.”
Rep. Smith called the decision a “victory for common sense.”
“The notion that permits would be required for baptisms on our riverways is ridiculous,” he said.
It’s not the first time government officials have tried to discourage public baptisms.

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But while the government cracks down on public expressions of the Christian faith, they are embracing public expressions of the Islamic faith – many times at taxpayer expense.
Universities across the nation are spending thousands of dollars to install foot baths so Muslim students can wash their feet before their five-times-a-day prayers.
The New York Times reported that the University of Michigan-Dearborn spent $25,000 to install the foot-washing stations in restrooms. The university defended the expenditure, claiming it was for health and safety measures, not religion.
A number of airports have spent public tax dollars to provide foot-washing basins for Muslim taxi drivers. One Arizona airport went so far as to provide prayer rugs.

So why would Christians even need a permit when they have been doing this for a long time? This makes no sense and smacks of anti-Christian bigotry.

The permits won't be required now.

Should the permits have been required for the baptists? Should tax dollars be used to accommodate Muslims such as the foot washing stations in university?
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http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013...rches-to-get-baptism-permits/?test=latestnews
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[Fern]

Reminds me of Oh Brother Where Art Thou.

Fern

 

[piasabird]

Just get a permit for every sunday of the year.

 

[BoberFett]

If they're on national park land, they should have to get the same permits anybody else would have to get to hold an activity there.

If they have their own land that's adjacent to a river, they can feel free to use it however they want without a permit in accordance with local conservation laws.

 

[OutHouse]

If they're on national park land, they should have to get the same permits anybody else would have to get to hold an activity there.

If they have their own land that's adjacent to a river, they can feel free to use it however they want without a permit in accordance with local conservation laws.

you need a Federal permit to fish?

(other than a state fishing license)

 

[Brian Stirling]

That's right, if you were leading a photography tour you would have to get a permit as you are:

1. A largish group

2. Inhibiting others form accessing the same area while your there

3. May require more resources from the park


And, as has been said, if you own the land near the river then there would be no problem.


Recommendation to the group ... get the permit...


Brian

 

[IronWing]

Group activity permits in the national parks generally require liability insurance so there is a cost to the organizer beyond the cost of the permit.

 

[BoberFett]

you need a Federal permit to fish?

(other than a state fishing license)

No idea. Never looked into it. But as long as they're not being asked to do something that anybody else would have to do as well, there's no discrimination to be found.

 

[Theb]

Those poor precious snowflakes almost had to follow the same rules as everyone else.

 

[Kadarin]

Those poor precious snowflakes almost had to follow the same rules as everyone else.

This. If a non-religious group needs a permit for an activity of the same group size as these clowns, then these guys should get one as well.