Statehouse Headliners: Pastor suspended from Senate devotions for a year after discussing ‘right to life’

By Guy Page

Rev. Rosaire Bisson, assistant pastor at the Christ Community Alliance Church in Barre, was suspended from giving devotions before the Vermont Senate for a year after he spoke in January about “everyone’s right to life.”

Both the Vermont House and Senate hear a brief 1-to-3 minute devotion on most days. The speakers are typically, but not exclusively, local religious leaders of all faiths. They are instructed to avoid any controversial or political issues.

Bisson read his devotion to the Vermont Senate on Jan. 30, a week before a well-attended, contentious State House public hearing on H.57, the unrestricted abortion bill. (H.57 passed and is now in the Senate Health & Welfare Committee.) Several senators objected to what they said was controversial, issues-based content. Bisson was then told by Senate staff he would be ineligible to deliver any more devotions this year.

The entire devotion is printed verbatim below. Did it “cross the line” into controversy? Was the suspension consistent with the rules on devotionals? It’s a judgment call. What do you think?

“The Preciousness of Life”

In the Declaration of Independence, it states in the second paragraph, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

There is a reason that among those unalienable rights listed that life is first, for without life, it is impossible to enjoy these other rights. Indeed, the Equality and Human Rights Commission also states in Article 2, “Everyone’s right to life shall be protected by law.”

In the first book of the Bible, Genesis, recognized by Christians, Jews and Muslims, we see clearly that God considers man unique among His creation. In chapter one and verse 26, we read, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image.’” Also we see, that unlike the rest of His creation that came about as God spoke, He took special attention in creation of man. In chapter two and verse 7 it says, “the Lord formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

A staple of our news media has been their reporting of the rescuing of an individual. Recently, in a joint House and Senate resolution, Sgt. La Rose was honored for the saving of a woman. In a recent incident in West Virginia, untold numbers of people spent over a million dollars to bring out of an abandoned coal mine, three people. We spend millions over decades to find a cure from cancer. And an important part of our law enforcement’s mission is the maintenance of safety on our highways, to protect life and limb.

We have rightly criticized nations who have historically disregarded life. The Romans as they abandoned their infants and were entertained by gladiatorial fights. Genghis Khan, as he killed 35 million Chinese, so that his sheep had more area to graze. And in the last century with Hitler and Stalin, as they killed millions for racial reasons or because they were considered feeble.

Because we in America have valued life so greatly, we have been distinguished around the world. Key purposes of government include the protection, promotion and provision of human life, especially its most vulnerable.

Statehouse Headliners is intended primarily to educate, not advocate. It is e-mailed to an ever-growing list of interested Vermonters, public officials and media. Guy Page is affiliated with the Vermont Energy Partnership; the Vermont Alliance for Ethical Healthcare; and Physicians, Families and Friends for a Better Vermont.

Image courtesy of Bruce Parker/TNR

12 thoughts on “Statehouse Headliners: Pastor suspended from Senate devotions for a year after discussing ‘right to life’

  1. By avoiding controversial topics they can have a claim that even the religious leaders never made them aware…attempted avoidance of guilt.

  2. Guess this would indicate who is in charge of all of vermont’s censoring. Didn’t see this in any other publication, if any thing he pussy footed,around the topic at hand , but it still made people think too much, perhaps feel guilty,,,,,,,so he had to go.

  3. So much for free speech. They don’t agree, they shut him up. Yeah for the Dem/Prog/Lib form of democracy.

  4. Rev. Rosaire Bisson stated what most Vermonter’s believe, bill H.57 was nothing more than
    a bill that Kills.

    The elected officials cannot stand the truth, I hope those that voted for that disgusting bill
    have many restless nights………………….

    Agenda & Money…………. Vermont’s politics !!

  5. The Reverend spoke truth – backed up by the Word of God. He broke the “rules” – the ones that seek to minimize the impact of the devotion. Frankly, I’m expecting any day now that the “progressive” super majority in Montpelier will ban any mention of God or his Word in the State House. It’s being done other places around the country, and I imagine it will eat at the majority in Montpelier that THEY are not leading this charge.

  6. As a Pastor, Rev. Bisson’s devotional was very appropriate, and truthful.
    I am aghast, appalled, and ashamed (for him and for the future of our government) that he is being censored by the VT Senate for simple “free speech” and for direct quotes from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, in saying “Everyone’s right to life is protected by law.” Certainly that is true.
    If those who censored Rev Bisson do NOT believe that “everyone’s right to life IS protected by law” then they need to take issue with what the Human Rights Commission says. In other words, apparently those in opposition to his devotions must feel that only certain human beings, deserve a “right to life protected by law”, which we should ALL be wary and concerned about and what the next step our Senate or House will take to censor and punish certain people. NO, this was NOT a controversial or a political statement. It was fact, which his last two sentences state clearly. I strongly feel that this Senate has acted in a very dangerously prejudicial and WRONG manner in their “punishment” (censorship) of Rev. Bisson.

  7. Oh my did the Rev throw holy water on the Witches of Baby murder. The Blood
    letting must go on by decree of the flatlander overlords. No opinion other then
    the official leftarded demonrat one will be allowed. NO 1st amendment NO 2nd
    amendment. You must comply..

    We need another revolution in this state.

  8. Rev Bisson is a caring and kind man. He just made our liberal “leaders” in this sad state realize their lack of morals. I hope it’s hard for you to look in the mirror.

Comments are closed.