CBS This Morning on Tuesday did the bidding of the ACLU and expressed concern over an Alabama mega church lobbying to have its own police force. Showing a clueless attitude in the wake of the 2015 Charleston church shooting, reporter David Begnaud asked Greg Garrison of AL.com: “Why can't they just rely on 911 and call for help if they need it?”
The journalist glossed over this quickly, noting, “In a statement, Briarwood [Presbyterian] pointed to recent mass shootings at churches.” Begnaud added, “Why can't the church just hire off duty officers or sheriff deputies in the area?” Unsurprisingly, the journalist turned to the ACLU to explain the problem: “It's a problem because it violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This takes what is a core governmental power— the police power — and vests it in the hands of a religious organization as a church.”
Begnaud and AL.com’s Garrison explained the real problem, too much power for conservative Christians:
GREG GARRISON: The conservative Christian churches have a lot of power in Alabama politics. And if Briarwood Presbyterian Church says we need a police department many people say sure they need a police department.
DAVID BEGNAUD: Without asking a ton of questions?
GARRISON: Without asking a ton of questions.
Begnaud noted that “Briarwood would not be the first church with a police force. The Washington National Cathedral has 18 officers on staff.” He didn’t ask the obvious follow-up: What, exactly, is the problem then?
A transcript is below:
CBS This Morning
4/18/17
7:43GAYLE KING: Alabama lawmakers could send a bill to the governor this week that would let a mega church establish its own police force. The bill would grant Briarwood Presbyterian Church the ability to hire officers with the same powers as traditional cops. It's already passed the state senate and awaiting a House vote. David Begnaud is in Alabama where the plan is getting mixed reactions. David, good morning.
DAVID BEGNAUD: Good morning. We're used to hearing the church talk about God's law. But in this case, the church is asking for its very own manmade law. Now Briarwood is more than just a church. It has got a daycare, a seminary and a school which is spread across two different campus that are actually nine miles apart and it's the concern for the kids' safety that's the main reason this church says, “We need our own police force.” Briarwood Presbyterian Church sits on the buckle of the Bible belt. Beyond Sunday services, the church claims as many as 8,000 people pass through its campuses daily. Concerned about safety, Briarwood is asking the state legislature to allow it to hire its own cops with all the powers of law enforcement officers. Religion reporter Greg Garrison has covered this for Al.com. Why can't the church just hire off duty officers or sheriff deputies in the area?
GREG GARRISON (Al.com): That’s what they already do, but they say sometimes they have difficulty getting enough to staff all their events
BEGNAUD: Why can't they just rely on 911 and call for help if they need it?
GARRISON: Well, they could. But they believe that to be truly secure at all their events they need security officials there.
BEGNAUD: A shooting this past weekend injured five teenagers and a baby at another church just 50 miles north of here. In a statement, Briarwood pointed to recent mass shootings at churches and schools to reinforce their need, saying, “The sole purpose of this proposed legislation is from provide a safe environment for the church, its members, students and guests.” Randall Marshal is with the ACLU of Alabama.
BEGNAUD: The church is worried about what if. What if something happens? Why is there a problem to have a police force?
RANDALL MARSHALL (ACLU): It’s a problem because it violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This takes what is a core governmental power— the police power — and vests it in the hands of a religious organization as a church.
BEGNAUD: Briarwood would not be the first church with a police force. The Washington National Cathedral has 18 officers on staff. Many observers expect Alabama state representatives will give their blessing on the Briarwood law.
GARRISON: The conservative Christian churches have a lot of power in Alabama politics. And if Briarwood Presbyterian Church says we need a police department many people say sure they need a police department.
BEGNAUD: Without asking a ton of questions?
GARRISON: Without asking a ton of questions.
BEGNAUD: Five times over four days we tried to get an interview with the church but they didn't want to talk on camera. The ACLU is prepared to sue if this becomes law. Now, Norah, it’s worth noting that last year this same bill sailed through the legislature but it died on the governor's desk because he didn't sign it. Now there's a new governor and she's taking a look at whether it's a good idea for her to sign.
