Freethought Nation

Cross Is Central Symbol Of Christianity And Must Not Be Secularized By Government, Americans United Tells Court

"AU, Allies Say Officials' Use Of 'Secular' Crosses To Memorialize Utah Highway Patrol Officers Is Offensive And Violates Church-State Separation

The cross is a Christian symbol and government should not try to use it as a secular memorial marker, Americans United for Separation of Church and State has told a federal appeals court.

In a friend-of-the-court brief filed today, Americans United and allied religious leaders and organizations take issue with a federal court decision allowing Utah officials to place crosses along highways to memorialize state highway patrol officers who have died in the line of duty.

State officials insisted that the Christian symbol is a secular symbol and can be used regardless of the personal religious beliefs of the officer being honored.

U.S. District Judge David Sam ruled in November of 2007 that the cross is a “secular symbol of death” and held that Utah officials and the Utah Highway Patrol Association can continue to erect the 12-foot crosses.

Americans United is asking the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the lower court ruling.

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, said he is offended by the claim that the cross is merely a secular symbol.

“The cross is the preeminent symbol of Christianity,” said Lynn, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. “For the government to claim that the cross is a secular symbol is deeply offensive and betrays a poor understanding of religion and our Constitution.”

In its brief, AU points out that the cross has been tied to Christianity for many centuries.

“In upholding the display of roadside crosses on public land throughout the State of Utah, the district court embraced the State’s characterization of the cross the clearest and most universally recognized marker of Christianity as nothing more than a ‘secular symbol of death,’” asserts the brief. “This conclusion is historically inaccurate, blind to contemporary realities, and offensive to believers and nonbelievers alike.”

The brief in American Atheists, Inc. v. Duncan argues that governmental display of the cross violates the constitutional mandate of government neutrality toward religion.

Joining Americans United on the brief are the Anti-Defamation League, the Hindu American Foundation, The Interfaith Alliance, the Union for Reform Judaism and Dr. Eugene Fisher, retired associate director, Secretariat of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The brief was prepared by Evan M. Tager, David M. Gossett and Brian M. Willen of the firm Mayer Brown LLP and by Americans United Assistant Legal Director Richard B. Katskee and other members of AU’s legal team."

http://www.au.org/site/News2?abbr=pr&pa ... z21.app13a

Cross Is Central Symbol Of Christianity And Must Not Be Secularized By Government, Americans United Tells Court

Americans United Urges IRS To Take Action Against Six Churches That Joined Pulpit-Politicking Scheme Monday,

September 29, 2008

Church-State Watchdog Group Criticizes Religious Right Lawyers For Luring Congregations Into Intentional Violation Of Federal Tax Law

"Americans United for Separation of Church and State today filed complaints with the Internal Revenue Service about six churches whose pastors endorsed candidates from the pulpit during a mass defiance of federal tax law last Sunday.

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Religious Right legal group in Scottsdale, Ariz., urged pastors to defy federal tax law by endorsing or opposing candidates during a so-called “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” Sept. 28. Under the IRS Code, churches and other 501(c)(3) tax-exempt groups may not intervene in elections.

“These pastors flagrantly violated the law and now must deal with the consequences,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United.

Continued Lynn, “This is one of the most appalling Religious Right gambits I’ve ever seen. Church leaders are supposed to tend to Americans’ spiritual needs, not behave like partisan political hacks. I urge the IRS to act swiftly in these cases.”

Lynn also scored the ministers who took part in the ADF gambit.

“A pastor who knowingly violates federal tax law is setting a poor example for his or her congregation,” Lynn said. “Every pastor who took part in this stunt ought to be ashamed.”

The ADF overture has been roundly criticized. Many pastors refused to take part, arguing that America’s pulpits should not be politicized. In addition, three former IRS officials have filed a complaint asserting that the ADF has violated ethics standards governing tax attorneys by urging clients to violate the law.

The six churches reported to the IRS by Americans United today are:

Bethlehem Baptist Church, Bethlehem, Ga.: According to press accounts, Pastor Jody Hice “urged his congregation to vote for Sen. John McCain and to not vote for Sen. Barack Obama.”

Fairview Baptist Church, Fairview, Okla.: The Associated Press reported that Pastor Paul Blair “says he told his congregation that as a Christian and as an American citizen, he would be voting for John McCain.”

Warroad Community Church, Warroad, Minn.: Pastor Gus Booth told his congregation, “We need to vote for the most righteous of candidates. And it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure that out. The most righteous is John McCain.”

Calvary Chapel, Philadelphia, Pa.: The Rev. Francis Pultro told the congregation, “As Christians it’s clear we should vote for John McCain. He is the only candidate I believe a Christian can vote for.”

First Southern Baptist Church, Buena Park, Calif.: The Rev. Wiley Drake said, “I am angry because the government and the IRS and some Christians have taken away the rights of pastors. I have a right to endorse anybody I doggone well please. And if they don’t like that, too bad….According to my Bible and in my opinion, there is no way in the world a Christian can vote for Barack Hussein Obama. Mr. Obama is not standing up for anything that is tradition in America.”

New Life Church, West Bend, Wisc.: Speaking from the pulpit, Pastor Luke Emrich said, “I’m telling you straight up I would choose life. I would cast a vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin.”

Said AU’s Lynn, “When five of the six pastors choose to endorse John McCain, it’s hard not to see the ADF scheme as partisan in character.”

In complaint letters filed with the IRS, Americans United urged swift investigations of the churches and appropriate penalties."

http://www.au.org/site/News2?abbr=pr&pa ... 9s36.app7b

FFRF Sues Bush, Shirley Dobson and Gov. Doyle over National Day of Prayer Proclamations

"October 3, 2008

(MADISON, WIS.) The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a national state/church watchdog, filed a federal lawsuit today broadly challenging the federal law designating a National Day of Prayer and requiring a National Day of Prayer Proclamation by the President. In addition to suing Pres. George W. Bush, the lawsuit names his press secretary, Dana Perino, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, one of 50 governors to also issue prayer proclamations, and Shirley Dobson, chair of the National Day of Prayer Task Force.

Public Law 100-307 sets the first Thursday in May as "National Day of Prayer." The Foundation is seeking a declaration that the law violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

"Mandated Prayer Proclamations by the President exhorting each citizen to pray constitutes an unabashed endorsement of religion," contends the Foundation complaint, filed on behalf of the Foundation by attorney Richard L. Bolton of Boardman Law Firm, Madison, Wis.

The suit alleges that a task force associated with Focus on the Family is "working hand-in-glove" with the government in organizing the National Day of Prayer.

The Foundation charges that the government "aligns and partners" with the NDP Task Force as the official organizer of the National Day of Prayer. The NDP Task Force identifies itself online as "The National Day of Prayer 'Official Website.' " The task force has close ties to Focus on the Family. Its chair person, Shirley Dobson, is married to Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, and the task force is located in the Focus on the Family headquarters.

The task force proposes the wording of proclamations and chooses a yearly theme and a bible quote. In 2008, Psalm 28:7, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped" was selected by the NDP as its official biblical reference, and was recited in Bush's proclamation and in at least 15 gubernatorial NDP proclamations. Other governors picked up variations of the task force resolution template and the annual theme.

The Foundation Complaint contends that the Establishment Clause "prohibits government officials and persons acting in joint and concerted action with government officials from taking actions that endorse religion, including specific religions in preference to others, as well as preferring religion over non-religion."

"Exhortations to pray in official Presidential proclamations do not constitute ceremonial deism solemnizing some other occasion," the Foundation asserts, but "constitute an end in itself intended to promote and endorse religion."

The Complaint notes that the prayer proclamations "create a bond between church and state," causing such violations as an official prayer breakfast organized on May 1, 2008, by Sheriff Dean Roland, Burnett Co., Wis. The Sheriff organizes an annual prayer breakfast and sends out invitations on Sheriff's Department letterhead. His speaker this year was Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice (Elect) Michael Gableman, who said official acknowledgment of reliance on "Divine Providence" is necessary for our nation's success and well-being.

Also named is Wis. Gov. Jim Doyle, who issued a proclamation this year extolling prayer and exhorting Wisconsin citizens to prayer, utilizing National Day of Prayer Task Force themes, giving the appearance of state endorsement of religion.

The suit alleges that the NDP Task Force pressures governors from all 50 states to issue official proclamations, acting "in concert" in a way that aligns them with "the Judeo-Christian principles on which the Task Force is based."

"The concerted actions by these Governors to include the NDP Task Force theme and Biblical reference are not accidental or coincidental; they are the result of joint action with the NDP Task Force." The proclamations "convey to nonreligious Americans that they are expected to believe in God," and send a message that "religion is preferred over non-religion."

"Designations of an official Day of Prayer by Presidential and Gubernatorial proclamations, encouraging celebration of prayer, create a hostile environment for nonbelievers. who are made to feel as if they are political outsiders," continues the Complaint.

"Official Prayer Proclamations by the President and the Governors of the United States adversely affect the ability of FFRF to carry out its organizational mission." The Complaint calls prayer "the quintessential religious act."

Plaintiffs are the Foundation and five of its Wisconsin Lifetime members, who are also volunteers or officers: Anne Nicol Gaylor, President Emerita; Annie Laurie Gaylor and Dan Barker, Co-Presidents; Paul Gaylor and Jill Dean, volunteers and members of the Board of Directors, and Phyllis Rose, volunteer and Foundation officer."

http://www.ffrf.org/news/2008/NationalDayOfPrayer.php

Unholy Inquisition: Justice Department Says ‘Faith-Based’ Grantees Can Ignore Anti-Bias Laws Approved By Congress

"Say you’re a social worker in the Washington, D.C., suburbs and you’ve just heard about a new U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) program intended to keep kids out of gangs. You hop down to the local agency running the project to put in an application.

While there, the agency staffer hands you a form to fill out.

It asks, “Do you believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God?”

It goes on, “Do you believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit?”

It inquires further, “Do you believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory?”

Wait a minute, you say to yourself. I’m applying for a publicly funded social worker position, not pastor of the First Baptist Church. This isn’t right.

Too bad for you, says the agency staffer. Top lawyers at the Bush administration say you’re out of luck.

The New York Times reported Saturday that the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel has just posted a memo on the DOJ Web site saying “faith-based” agencies can collect government funds and still discriminate in hiring on religious grounds even if Congress has specifically banned such bias in the program in question.

In 2007, a $1.5 million DOJ grant was approved for World Vision even though the evangelical Christian agency hires only Christians of their stripe. The money was intended to help at-risk youth stay out of gangs.

As World Vision’s Web site openly states, the agency “hires only those who agree and accept to its Statement of Faith and/or the Apostles’ Creed.” (The doctrinal points mentioned above come from the World Vision Statement of Faith.)

This all means one thing: taxpayers of all faiths and none are contributing to a federally funded program that hires only Christians of a particular doctrinal bent. And to add insult to injury, the federal legislation funding the program specifically bars job bias of all kinds.

Lawyers at the Office of Legal Counsel said the Religious Freedom Restoration Act trumps the anti-discrimination provisions of the legislation in question. Church-state experts say that’s nonsense.

Americans United Executive Director Barry W. Lynn told The Washington Post, “There is no reasonable way to read the history of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and conclude it permits discriminatory hiring with tax dollars.”

Lynn added, “The fight here is over a fairly narrow principle: In the program or activity being funded, must you give the job to the best person or can you use a religious test? . . . If you take money from the government, you have to obey the law.”

Lynn told The Times, “The Bush administration has been trying to allow religious recipients of tax dollars to discriminate in hiring. No Congress intended that. The Constitution does not permit it. And this memo is just one more example of this administration subverting Congressional and constitutional intent in pursuit of a forbidden goal: discrimination in hiring.”

It’s perfectly fine for churches to apply doctrinal tests to clergy and other staff who will be paid from the voluntary donations of the faithful. Nobody expects a Baptist church to hire a Buddhist as its pastor. But it is not okay for the United States government to fund public-service jobs and then force applicants to submit to an inquisition to see if they’re eligible.

The Post notes that the Office of Legal Counsel that came up with this “faith-based” outrage is the same one that blessed detainee interrogations that amounted to torture and a warrantless eavesdropping program that nearly provoked a mass resignation of top law enforcement officials.

Maybe we should just be honest and start calling it the Injustice Department."

http://blog.au.org/2008/10/20/unholy-in ... -congress/

The separation of church and state is a legal and political principle derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ." The phrase "separation of church and state", which does not appear in the Constitution itself, is generally traced to an 1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists, where Jefferson spoke of the combined effect of the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. It has since been quoted in several opinions handed down by the United States Supreme Court.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation ... ted_States

Send a letter to President-Elect Obama to STOP Religious Discrimination

Tell President-Elect Obama to Stop Religious Discrimination!

Take action NOW!

The election is over and transition plans are well underway. The possibility of change has arrived, and for those of us who stand up for separation of church and state, it’s not a moment too soon. For eight years, we have been fighting President Bush’s Faith-Based Initiative. We’ve battled over charitable choice in Congress time and time again. From hiring discrimination to proselytizing, from the lack of accountability to the preemption of important state and local civil rights laws, the Initiative has been fraught with unconstitutional and unconscionable policies.

With a new administration taking office, we finally have an opportunity to reverse some of the damage caused by President Bush’s Faith-Based Initiative. President-elect Obama has stated clearly that he will continue the government partnership with faith-based organizations in order to reach as many of our citizens as possible who need social services. But thanks to some encouraging words by the President-Elect, we have reason to believe that some of the most destructive aspects of the Faith-Based Initiative may finally end. Until policies have been implemented, however, the revisions to the Initiative remain uncertain. Needless to say, President-Elect Obama has recently been hearing from loud voices from across the political spectrum including those who wish to send federal dollars to support religious activities and to underwrite organizations that discriminate in hiring. We must be willing to work with President-Elect Obama to implement this new partnership in order to protect church-state separation.

We need you to speak up NOW to ensure that once and for all, the wrongs of the Bush Faith-Based Initiative are made right. Please click here to send a letter to President-Elect Obama encouraging him to restore civil rights and prevent possible violations of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. This is our opportunity to work with the next administration to begin to repair the wall between church and state!

To send a letter to President elect Obama go here -
http://action.au.org/au/mailapp/

http://www.au.org/site/PageServer?pagen ... pres_elect

The United American Committee

"The United American Committee is a non-partisan movement of concerned Americans, promoting awareness of threats which face America from within. The UAC is dedicated to educating and awakening the nation to the current threats confronting the U.S., with the primarily focus on confronting Islamic extremism. The UAC champions the fight in the ideological aspects of the War on Terror, and brings the War on Terror to the grassroots level. The thousands of UAC members who are just like you are heroes for making the pledge to make tomorrow in America a better, and safer place. We are a diverse group, all Americans, united, and striving for a better tomorrow in America."

THE 10 POINT UAC PLATFORM:
http://www.unitedamericancommittee.org/platform.htm

http://www.unitedamericancommittee.org