Kaine Doubles Down On Denying Rights Come from God
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Kaine Doubles Down On Denying Rights Come from God
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., has doubled down on his criticism of the idea that people’s rights come from God and not the government, as his recent remarks during a U.S. Senate hearing have drawn backlash from religious and political leaders.
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Kaine, a Catholic who was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2016, wrote an op-ed for Fox News published on Tuesday, responding to another Fox News op-ed written by Bishop Robert Barron of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona-Rochester two days earlier.
During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing last week, Kaine characterized the idea that rights come from God as “extremely troubling.” The senator insisted that such an idea is “what the Iranian government believes,” calling it a “theocratic regime that bases its rule on Sharia law and targets Sunnis, Baha’is, Jews, Christians and other religious minorities” because “they believe that they understand what natural rights are from their Creator.”
Barron wrote that Kaine’s remarks are what’s “truly troubling” and urged readers to “resist this dangerous rhetoric” and celebrate “inalienable rights.”
“And it’s a fruit, I would argue, of the increasing marginalization and privatization of, if not outright hostility toward, organized religion, which is the bedrock of our democracy,” the bishop asserted.
Barron also posted a video on social media a few days earlier, calling Kaine’s comments “dangerous to our democracy.”
In response to Barron’s op-ed, Kaine called the bishop’s views “deeply disturbing.” The senator expressed agreement with the notion of the Founding Fathers that “all people are endowed by the Creator with certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” At the same time, he detailed how his experience working alongside Catholic missionaries in the military dictatorship of Honduras taught him that “rights are essentially meaningless unless they are protected by law.”
Kaine listed the rights to vote, trial by jury, freedom of the press, bear arms, due process, assembly, and not to be subject to cruel and unusual punishments as examples of rights explicitly protected in the U.S. Constitution that are not mentioned in “the Bible or other sacred texts.” He cited the legality of slavery until the passage of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as an example of how a natural right to freedom was not protected in the U.S. until slavery became illegal.
“Unless protected by law, everyday people cannot rest secure that their critical rights will be protected. Claiming that all rights come from the Creator and not from laws or government leaves the door wide open for dictators to ignore the law and simply proclaim that they are doing God’s will,” he wrote.
“That has happened throughout history and it’s happening today in many parts of the world. It’s one reason why America cast off the British monarchy 250 years ago — we don’t accept a ‘divine right of kings’ to set, change or destroy the rules.”
Kaine said Barron “should thank God that his rights, and the rights of all Americans, are protected by law.”
“Bishop Barron should thank God that his rights, and the rights of all Americans, are protected by law,” Kaine wrote. “When it comes to the important business of ensuring legal rights, we should all heed the wisdom often attributed to St. Augustine: ‘Pray as though everything depends upon God. Work as though everything depends upon you.'”
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing featured one witness, Riley Barnes, who shared his agreement with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s belief that “all men are created equal because our rights come from God, our Creator; not from our laws, not from our governments.”
Barnes identified his belief as consistent with the proclamation laid out in the Declaration of Independence, stating that men are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” He also did not dispute the importance of equality under the law, maintaining that “these rights that are inherent in human dignity predate the law.”
What do you think of Senator Kaine’s comments? Share your thoughts and prayers below.
This article was originally published at The Christian Post. Photo Credit: U.S. Embassy Kyiv Ukraine.
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Comments
Father, please turn TK to you; show him that you made him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Holy Spirit, thank you for Mr. Kaine and for Bishop Barnes. Thank you for the dialogue between the two men. Thank you that your are in the midst of it all, using it to open all the eyes who hear and read what is being said. I pray these men have a deeper understanding of who you are, what you are doing in and for America, and the world, and that you alone will receive the glory, honor and praise you are so worthy of. Thank you for working all things together for good, in Jesus’ name.
This is a critical point to understand correctly. I’ve been taught that our Founders DECLARED rights as inalienable because of their belief of their derivation only from God that, THEREFORE, man should not infringe. Subsequently, our Constitution was formulated to PROTECT these rights because they are inherent and NECESSARY! Our country, unlike so many others is built on this precise CREED. The article doesn’t allow Bishop Barron to reply to Kaine’s follow-up assertions. I’d love to hear Bishop’s expound on the subject more! I’m sure he’s more than capable of lending his reknowed gifts of argument and discourse. I’ve listened to hours of his homilies, videos and fascinating interviews (including with Jordan Peterson, many others). I read his daily meditations. He is a treasure of intellect and spiritual understanding. Again, this point pertaining to the source of ‘rights’ is foundational to political discussions. I remember in the 2016 era having extended discussions with people over health care being claimed as a ‘right’ (to me it is not a right, but a privilege.) For those who can still be critical thinkers, it is imperative to gain clarity of definitions. Shared meaning is a building block to shared culture.
Several comments below have expressed my concern with Kaine’s comments. If government is the source of our rights, then they can also be the source of the removal of those rights. As I’ve commented before on other articles regarding our “freedoms” in this nation – our government can enforce certain freedoms, but it is not the source of our freedoms. Anyone in any nation is free to choose whatever they desire to – YHVH has given us free will, and He upholds our right to choose, even if we choose to rebel against Him. It is just that our choices have consequences that differ in different cultures and nations. Currently professing to be a Christian in the USA is not punishable by death, but it is in some nations. I want our government to uphold and enforce Biblical “rights” and “freedoms”, but if they cease to do so – I will still operate within my God-given freedom to obey Him above any earthly authority. (Consider Daniel and the 3 amigos in Babylon!)
Kaine has been for a long long time a troubled individual and very lost and demonically influenced. Pro abortion and trans-gender. He has a warped sense of reality and spiritual matters. He is my senator (but I never voted for him) but I can’t help but wonder if the elections have been rigged for a long time in his case and Warner’s. Life time politicians. Long time over due to retire. Pray for salvation or removal.
Our rights do indeed come from God. I am grateful that they are protected by law, but in our hearts, we as a people yearn to exercise the rights given by God. It isn’t the government that gives us these rights; they back them up. Iran is taking those rights that God would have them walk in and putting their leaders as the final say in what their citizens can do. If our rights came from the government, we would have no right to struggle for freedom. If Senator Kaine is right, then our government can take away our rights and claim they have the final say, not the citizens who fight for our God given rights. I pray for Senator Kaine to bow before God as the final authority of all things.
being protected by law and coming from law/government are Not the same
Another cafeteria Catholic, Kaine has really missed the ball on this one. Failing to recognize our rights as “God-given” is contrary to the most basic teaching of Christianity/Catholicism. It’s very sad when one places their politics above God but far too many of our so-called “leaders” do this on a daily basis. Pray for their souls.
Mr. Kaine should do a deep dive into the book of Leviticus. If he needs help with understanding the symbolism, I suggest a commentary such as InspiredScripturedotcom as an excellent source of reflection and contemplation. He, and most of the church, catholic or protestant, have no real relationship with the Word of God (or the God of the Word). It is time for that to change for all those who need help to break the mold of being a Sunday morning spectator. God Himself said He would send a Helper for us. And He did. The Holy Spirit will teach us, but we must commit the time for Him to do so. Even Elijah, a great prophet, found God waiting for him to quiet himself before God. Then God spoke to him. (1 Kings 19) We must do the same.
Well spoken, Bev and oh so true!
The rights come from Our Creator, Almighty God. The laws are to be set about to ensure and enforce the application of them. Mr Kaine, my God heal your wounded heart.
Mr Kaine and those who think like him are being tricked by satan. Why does mankind need hundreds of laws, while God gave us 10 that if followed is all we need. Evil comes from satan’s influence over mankind not from God. Our founding fathers knew this and sought God’s guidance and trusted in God. That is how they were able to defeat the world power of England.
Abortion, transgenderism, and homosexuality are not human rights but lies from satan to destroy souls.
So I pray for Tim Kaine and all who think like him. May they seek God and accept that God is in charge.
🙏😇🙏❤️
The whole OT is full break down and specifics of the 10 commandments, which is the outline so to speak. Not just 10. 615 plus.. God is very specific! How to worship and obey His way not ours. Yes, some Jesus fulfilled. Most He showed us how to keep with the help of the Holy SPirit. Some can not be kept presently due to no temple no sacrifices. Moses said they are NOT too hard to do. God would not set the Jews or us up to fail. The law was always to show us our sin NOT to save. He wants us to succeed and have victory! Yeshua/Jesus alone is our salvation! We still must obey to show the fruit of our faith! Shalom
I think both men make valid points.. God created me, breathed life into me, and has watched over me lovingly and carefully all my almost 80 years. He gave me the right to live, to speak, to walk, to worship, to know and choose right from wrong, etc., etc. Because He chose for me to live in the U.S., added to that I also have rights under the laws of this country. Growing up in my parents’ home, there were rules (laws I suppose) that I needed to follow as long as I lived there. Were my inalienable, God-given “rights” observed by my parents? Are my inalienable God-given rights upheld by laws of the US government, by my State, by my parish, and town? I believe so. Time to drop the inflammatory rhetoric and name-calling and thoughtfully read/listen to other people’s perspectives. Senator Kaine isn’t out to get you and his thoughts aren’t to be feared.
Sandra, I think you are on the wrong site. IFA comments are usually unloving, rude, judgemental, and far from Christian graciousness. God bless you and may we all grow in knowledge and love of our Savior.
Senator Kane doesn’t realize that all laws are come from the Ten Commandments! If that’s not from GOD, I don’t know what is!!
Kaine is clearly mislead by evil Godless leftist ideology, and clearly does not reflect Catholic Christian principles! He is an embarrassment trying to quibble about government role in life.
Senator Cruz got it right, that government’s role is to merely protect those inalienable rights, not be its creator!
It is time for all Christians to stop calling out the lost and realize that they can’t understand the love of God because many have never been introduced to our Savior. We need to stop being angry with what they are doing and realize that they belong to the father of lies who is Satan, not God. Jesus hung out with the sinners and he showed them the love of God. Remember his encounter with Zacchaeus? His life was completely changed when he met Jesus. The Pharisees were furious that Jesus would eat with him but it was the self-righteous that Jesus called vipers. Even the disciples couldn’t understand his love for sinners. Let’s reach out to them in love and show the grace that we have received from God. They are not the problem, Satan is. Remember that while we were yet sinner, Jesus died for us!
He is deeply deceived and confused. And should not be representing our nation in any way.., I pray for an encounter with Jesus for him and that truth will set him free. Until then I hope and pray he be removed from office and anyplace of influence in our nation