“Listen, my children, and you shall hear, of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.” This is the first line of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous poem known as Paul Revere’s Ride.

View Comments (12)

Most of us know the story of this famous revolutionary, who rode on his horse across the Massachusetts countryside, warning the colonists and militia that the British troops (“Regulars”) were coming. He, along with many other riders, carried a message of great importance. Because they made the dangerous journey, the militia was prepared to fight off the enemy’s initial attack. The alarms which sounded that night led to the “shot heard round the world.” The first gun was fired and the Revolutionary War began. The rest, of course, is American history!

Well, history has a way of repeating itself and in the case of Revere’s midnight ride, I believe Americans hear the sounds of horses’ hooves treading outside their doors at this very moment. The message being carried is a bit different, but it’s just as important.

Forgive my pun, but let’s just go back to December 14, 2020 when the literal SHOT heard round the world was the administration of the first covid vaccine in the United States. As of April 30, 2021, 100 million Americans have received either both shots of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, or one shot of the Johnson and Johnson.

As more and more vaccines are administered, many proponents of religious freedom have become uneasy. Stories of business owners pressuring employees to get the vaccine are becoming common. For now, many states have bills pending which would bar employers from firing workers who refuse a covid-19 vaccination. Nonetheless, there are warnings these freedoms could erode, as a disturbing trend is being seen in a handful of states. This trend has to do with removing religious exemptions to vaccinations for school-age children. As of now, this only affects non-covid related vaccinations, but proponents of religious liberty worry it could have far-reaching consequences in the future.

On April 27, 2021, a bill known as HB 6423  was passed in the Connecticut Senate that would eliminate the religious exemption for vaccines required for school. While this did not include covid vaccines, it required children be inoculated against measles, mumps, rubella and other communicable diseases. This law will take effect on September 1, 2022. Children in daycare, pre-kindergarten, or those who are new to the public/private school system would not be able to claim religious exemptions from that day forward. Students already attending school with religious exemptions before that date would be grandfathered in.

Under the bill, only students who obtain a medical exemption would be permitted to attend public or private school in the state without the required vaccines. Connecticut wouldn’t be the first state to do this, as New York and California have recently removed religious exemptions for children who attend public and private schools. Kevin Barry, a religious liberty lawyer with firstfreedoms.org, reminds us that unlike California and New York, however, Connecticut is considered a leader in religious liberty. Historically it was colonies such as Connecticut, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania who led the way in upholding religious freedom.

A petition, sponsored by Informed Choice Connecticut, was presented to Governor Ned Lamont; it was signed by more than 11,000 concerned citizens. There were five arguments listed within the document. Reasons number two and four are quite compelling and are quoted below:

Reason number two states: “Unlike New York or California, Connecticut is a religious liberty leader. Connecticut was founded by Puritans. New England (and the US) invented religious freedom. Connecticut has a much stronger connection to preserving the principle of religious liberty than either New York or California. Discriminating against the religious is wrong. Watch Dr. Paul Offit admit there are aborted human fetal DNA fragments in some vaccines on the Connecticut childhood schedule. Watch Dr. Stanley Plotkin describe the use of fetuses. Veto it to preserve religious liberty.”

Reason number four states: “Vaccine mandates violate international bioethics standards which prioritize the individual over the state. The true bioethics standard for vaccines prioritizes the INDIVIDUAL over society. Propaganda from the Pharmaceutical lobby obscures the true bioethical standards to increase revenue. Article 3 reads, ‘The interests and welfare of the individual should have priority over the sole interest of science or society.’”

The petition goes on to say that enacting laws which target the religious community will lead to those citizens leaving the state. In essence, Connecticut will create refugees, who will be forced to move to other states, where their rights will be upheld.

Religious freedom advocates say the bill violates the state’s constitutional guarantee to provide an education for all school children. Those who claim religious exemptions will not be given the same access. Ironically, the slogan written on Connecticut license plates is: The Constitution State. Those opposed to the bill cite the First Amendment of the Constitution which says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Thousands of concerned citizens, including doctors, parents and informed consent advocates filled the State Capitol for the “Rise Up Rally” to oppose the bill. Unfortunately, even after hearing the voices of the many concerned citizens outside the Capitol, the bill was passed by a vote of 22 to 14. The next day, Governor Lamont signed the bill, even after reading the petition given to him weeks before.

Lawsuits are being filed by nonprofit groups such as We the Patriots USA, the CT Freedom Alliance, and several parents. They say the state of Connecticut violated their First Amendment rights, guaranteeing free exercise of religion, as well as other rights listed in the Fourth, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. They believe the rights of parents to make decisions for their children are being taken away.

Regarding religious exemptions, Senator Kevin Kelly of Stratford, the leader of the Republican caucus stated, “It’s a First Amendment constitutional right. And we should be tolerant, understanding and accepting of individual liberty and religious freedom.”

New York, California and Connecticut aren’t the only states who have removed religious exemptions to vaccinations.  Maine, Mississippi and West Virginia also do not allow religious exemptions. In January 2020, it seemed New Jersey was heading down this same road, but lawmakers failed to get enough votes to pass a bill that would have removed religious exemptions to vaccinations.

Those of us who stand for religious freedom should be taking note of these laws being passed. The horses and riders have gone out–an alarm has been sounded. Even if our own state has not passed these laws, it should make us take pause. After all, could our state be next? If citizens are denied religious exemptions, what else will they be denied?

Connecticut State Senator Tony Hwang says he believes it is a parent’s responsibility, not the state’s, to decide if their child should be vaccinated. He also noted that at least 3,500 people submitted testimonies to legislators, emphasizing that it’s a parent’s choice. “Are we not listening to the people?” Hwang commented.

We are certainly at war right now as we fight for religious liberty. Rights are being violated on all fronts. When it comes to vaccines, those who have sincere objections to the use of aborted fetal cells are being marginalized in these states who deny them religious exemptions. For now, the covid vaccines have not been approved for use in young children, but what happens if this changes down the road? The use of mRNA and viral vector technology in the covid shots raises real concerns for religious groups who feel that human DNA was designed by God and therefore do not agree with it being manipulated in any way. The use of fetal cells in the Johnson and Johnson and Astra Zeneca shots is another concern.

Religious freedom is sown into the framework of our Constitution. Our inalienable rights are being violated if this is taken away. When several states lose these rights, it should signal a warning in our spirits. Paul Revere knew the British Regulars were on their way to Lexington and Concord and if they weren’t stopped, the Patriots would lose the arsenal of weapons they needed to fight. Christians should rise up and stand against these laws when we see even an inkling of them on the horizon. Even though the citizens of Connecticut lost their fight initially, they have not given up and will continue to fight the war, and stand against legislation that removes their God-given rights.

So, what can we do? Firstly, contacting our legislators is key. In fact, Intercessors for America shows you how to do this–just click on this link and scroll down to the Action Center or go to Pray for America’s Leaders and check out what is happening in your state. In addition, when the need arises, we must organize peaceful rallies to oppose harmful legislation. Of course, in these times, prayer is our greatest weapon.

The parting lines from Paul Revere’s Ride say:

“In the hour of darkness and peril and need,

The people will awaken and listen to hear,

The hurrying of hoof-beats of that steed,

And the midnight message of Paul Revere.”

America, have you heard the hoof-beats? The midnight message has gone out.

How will we keep religious freedom alive and well in our nation?

Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger and homeschooling Mom who studies the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. (Photo Credit: Unsplash.)