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Citizens should fight for religious freedoms

Staff reporter

The same freedoms that have allowed the U.S. to be a great nation are the same freedoms being challenged.

The Rev. Donald Mashburn of Strassburg Baptist Church reminded area residents Monday morning that citizens have a tremendous and unique privilege of living in a nation that holds the belief of liberty for each individual.

The pastor spoke at Marion Cemetery for Memorial Day services.

Those liberties, particularly religious freedoms, are being attacked, Mashburn said.

He said he especially takes offense to those celebrities who speak against those freedoms, especially in New York City.

"You have to have the government's permission to build a house," Mashburn began.

He continued that permission from the government was required to get married, sell items door-to-door, cut hair, and to build a lagoon system to be able to flush toilets.

"Some are necessary," Mashburn said, and encouraged all to be good citizens by paying their taxes and raising their children to believe in God.

Christian freedoms and principals are being "chipped away" and being attacked.

"This is one nation under God," Mashburn said, and those words should remain.

The primary purpose of the service was to honor and thank those who have done the right thing, Mashburn said.

He said there have been names in the news of area soldiers — Molly Holub of Marion and Pete Richert of Hillsboro — who have done the right thing by serving their country in the military.

"We especially want to honor those who served and did not return," Mashburn said.

The minister encouraged listeners to get up and do the right thing.

"This country was founded on God-centered principle," he said. "Raise your family to know the Lord and repute what is evil."

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