The cost of speaking the truth

I think it's really important to be aware of a discussion going on about a pastor who's coming under fire for calling Mormonism a cult.  You can get a sense of the discussion here.  I was amused by this interview over the weekend.  What's not amusing is that it seems in today's culture that a pastor saying that Mormonism is a cult is considered bigoted.  This is frightening to me on a number of levels, mostly because, you know, that whole "religious freedom" thing.  Also this:

CHAPTER XXX.

Of Church Censures.

I. The Lord Jesus, as king and head of his Church, hath therein appointed a government in the hand of Church officers, distinct from the civil magistrate.
II. To these officers the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven are committed, by virtue whereof they have power respectively to retain and remit sins, to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the word and censures; and to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the gospel, and by absolution from censures, as occasion shall require.
III. Church censures are necessary for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren; for deterring of others from like offenses; for purging out of that leaven which might infect the whole lump; for vindicating the honor of Christ, and the holy profession of the gospel; and for preventing the wrath of God, which might justly fall upon the Church, if they should suffer his covenant, and the seals thereof, to be profaned by notorious and obstinate offenders.

Lest you think me overreacting, this morning's local news-talk station reported on this story and very authoritatively shook their heads in verbal disgust:  "You would think we were past that."


Really?  We're "past that"?  A pastor is no longer allowed to say publicly who is and is not a Christian?


So, do I just listen to too much talk radio, or is this a big deal?  I think so.