Should a Muslim represent the American people?

Recently, I wrote a letter to the Texas GOP executive committee objecting to them voting to retain a professed Muslim as a Tarrant County Republican vice chairman (see letter below). I am currently in the process of sending this letter to over 3000 county Republican party groups.

Dear Texas GOP Executive Committee –

Recently, it was brought to my attention how some members of the Tarrant County Republicans wanted Shahid Shafi (a devout Muslim) removed as the county’s vice chairman, over concerns he “may be more loyal to Islamic law.”  However, the Texas GOP executive committee voted to retain Shafi to “affirm the party’s commitment to religious liberty and freedom.” Where? Not in America.

I write this letter out of concern for the party and the party’s misinterpretation of the U.S. Constitution. The religious clause of the First Amendment and the religious test clause of Article VI were to limit federal powers and jurisdiction – not the State’s. The federal government does not have the authority to examine the religious beliefs of a candidate, but the State voters do.

One example: Tennessee Constitution in 1796 stated; “No person who denies the being of God…shall hold any office in the civil department of this State.” In America’s republic we elect representatives who uphold and defend the written U.S. Constitution and adhere to the higher authority (God) when they pass laws to govern our nation. Founding Father Noah Webster who was the “Schoolmaster of America” stated clearly what that source of law was: “Our citizens should early understand that the genuine source of correct republican principles is the Bible, particularly the New Testament, or the Christian religion.”

Supreme Court Justice James Iredell (nominated to the Court by President Washington stated; “But it is never to be supposed that the people of America will trust their dearest rights to persons who have… a religion different from their own.” Keep in mind the definition of “religion” as it appears in the Constitution was: “A belief in the being and perfections of God, in the revelation of His will to man, in man’s obligation to obey His commands….The practice of moral duties without a belief in a divine lawgiver, and without reference to his will or commands, is not religion.”

I have no doubt Mr. Shafi is an honorable man and I respect his religious beliefs, but those beliefs are in conflict to the U.S. Constitution. I applaud those members of the Tarrant County Republicans for challenging the seriousness of Shafi’s beliefs.

“I do not suppose an infidel, or any such person, will ever be chosen to any office unless the people themselves be of the same opinion” Signer of the Constitution – Richard Dobbs Spaight

It seems the American people prefer a democracy over what we really are, a Constitutional Republic.

“[D]emocracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy; such an anarchy that every man will do what is right in his own eyes and no man’s life or property or reputation or liberty will be secure.” – President John Adams

In the year of our Lord 2018 –

Sincerely, Tom Hughes
President, Alliance for Religious Freedom