Every day at work, I receive a copy of the Capitol Morning Report. This is a short publication that lists the goings-on and assorted legislative scuttlebutt taking place across the street in the big building with the dome on top.
One of the things that appears there every Wednesday is the Legislator's Bible Study, which meets at 7:45 in the morning. And another Bible Study for the staff, which meets at noon. Every other Thursday, there's also a special one just for the ladies.
Several months ago, I jumped to a conclusion and assumed that our tax dollars were paying for this stuff, and wrote a letter demanding an explanation to several key figures. I received one letter in reply, which explained that no tax dollars are used for this. Somewhat abashed, I mentally slapped myself for the ungrounded (though I suppose understandable) assumption I'd made.
Still… The blurb in the Capitol Morning Report lists several "sponsors" of the Wednesday study, including two senators, three assembly members, and something called Capitol Ministries.
Capitol Ministries was easy enough to find. They're at www.capitolministries.org. Their homepage states: "Capitol Ministries is singularly focused on establishing biblical ministries in State Capitols throughout our nation - and eventually the world - in order to bring the Gospel of Christ to elected officials."
I perused the California section of the site, learning about Pastor Ralph Drollinger, who heads the organization. I even looked at some of the specific "lessons" from this year, all of which are online in PDF format. Essentially, these amount to telling our legislators what they should think (which is essentially what dogmatic Christianity does, anyway), and by extension, how they should vote on particular issues. Such as same-sex marriage and abortion, in case you couldn't guess.
Here's a gem from the good Pastor: "Our staff at Capitol Ministries has found that there is very little ministry going on amongst the approximately 7500 legislators on a state level or higher throughout the nation. And that the need to begin ministries that teach God's Word and do not compromise on the truths of Scripture, is very much needed. In a country where so little biblical Christianity is seen in the churches, it is no wonder that legislators know so little about the Bible, and live out of step with it."
Scary stuff, isn't it?
Capitol Ministries is a special interest group representing conservative Christians. They have an agenda, which is to urge legislators to vote according to their Christian principles, thereby causing Christian law to become national law.
Every day, the theocracy inches closer.
