[The Urban Sombrero]

Well I hate to tell you there Sherlock, but there is quite a difference between the concept of freedom of conscience and the one that we have been discussing, which is essential Liberty. LOL, but in that inadvertent revelation on your part, the meaning of your idea of simple certainly snapped into focus for me. I mean, if you don't even know which term we were discussing, how can you be expected to properly define it much less apply it, right? Heck, that's just plain unfair of me.

But I'll tell you what there professor. Since you just lost round one on the topic of essential Liberty. Why don't you hazard a trip out on the thin ice, and give us all your idea of what freedom of conscience is all about? This is your time to shine. The eggs of that mental omelet of yours are scrambled enough, and I didn't want to confuse you by dealing with both topics in the same post. And please, don't take it easy on me. Pull out all the stops including indentured servitude and I'll do my best to keep up. Oh, and since you've resorted to nitpicking about spelling and such, you might want to keep in mind for future reference that 'text proofing' is two words.

Uh, Holmes, best check again. "Prooftexting or proof texting" both acceptable.

Essential liberty is a principle undergirding pursuit of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, akin to "unalienable" rights, as in fundamental, essential. And, you're as in error about it as you are about "prooftexting."

I notice you don't address your "Nathan Jessup" lunacy about how folk who haven't been in the Armed Services can't criticize the actions of the Armed Services. Word is, though, you can't handle the truth.

As for freedom of conscience, just type it in there, Holmes. The definition'll pop right up. In America, a person is free to choose to be homosexual, free to call it an alternate and moral lifestyle. The civil government protects that freedom, and "equal protection under the law" applies.
There is no construction by which you can sling in some long, long, long post yammering about God's authority and how civil government originates from God's authority because the freedom of choice was given Man by God, and is honored by God, and preserved under wise government, lest overzealous men transgress where angels fear to tread.