South Carolina has become the target of the Christian Exodus Movement. The Philadelphia Inquirer this morning reports on the group's strategy: move thousands of conservative Christians to South Carolina to elect like-minded state and local officials. The Action Plan on the group's website lays out this initial strategy: "The first move of ChristianExodus.org members has commenced. Our research committee selected two city/county combinations for Phase One. We believe we can reestablish constitutionally limited government in these two counties with the relocation of 500 Christians to one and 2,000 to the other. That number of activist emigres, when combined with the present Christian electorate, will enable constitutionalists to win the city council, the county council, elected law enforcement positions, and elected judgeships. We will then be able to protect our God-given and constitutionally protected rights within our local community."
The group's website lists eleven areas in which they hope to act, including outlawing abortion, gay marriage and teaching of evolution in the schools; restoring school prayer, public posting of the Ten Commandments; promoting gun rights, rights of fathers in child custody cases and protection of private property from arbitrary government seizure. Another page on its website argues that the 14th Amendment was fraudulently enacted, and that the 16th amendment (permitting a federal income tax) and 17th Amendment (requiring direct election of US Senators) should be repealed. The ultimate plan is to secede if the federal government interferes with their state and local agenda.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports, however, that so far only 5 families have actually moved to South Carolina as a result of the organization's efforts.
