ACLU Monitoring School Bible Handouts

by Susie Hassan
Monday, April 16, 2007
ABC7 News Online
COLLIER COUNTY:

A Collier County man who hands out bibles to Collier County high school students is under fire by the American Civil Liberties Union. Officials with the ACLU spent Monday night talking to Collier County democrats about the issue.

People on one side of the argument say it's not a separation of church and state issue while the other side says it is in fact a perfect example and neither side is backing down.

The debate begins with bibles handed out by Jerry Rutherford to Collier County high school students. He says there's no harm in what he's doing.

"This is not a church and state issue. It's a free speech issue," said Rutherford.

But the ACLU says the separation of church and state is exactly the issue.

"There is a time to speak you religious beliefs and that is in your church. *But the public education is not the forum for bible distribution," said ACLU Attorney Yale Freeman.

Typical ACLU position in their ongoing attempt to remove Christianity from the public sphere, and contain it to a more localized, segregated place in society.

Yeah, I've heard all the lefts' defense of the ACLU, saying that the ACLU has defended Christians in the past. Small cases that didn't amount to much of anything other than PR and to give the appearance of equal treatment. If Labor Unions represented their members in the same manner, members and liberals would be going ballistic.

Thomas More Law Center To Argue For Reversal of Decision Permitting Public Schools to Teach Students to “Become Muslims”... where was the ACLU?

Public Minnesota College to Install Foot-Washing Basins for Muslim Students...where is the ACLU?

Seattle Airport Removes Christmas Trees Instead of Putting Up Menorah...ACLU?

Muslims Seek Prayer Room at Airport...ACLU?

Rumsfeld supports Scouts meeting on military bases... "The ACLU contends the government sponsorship violates religious freedoms since the Boy Scouts require members to pledge allegiance to God."

JONES INTRODUCES BILL TO PROTECT PRAYER IN
OUR MILITARY ACADEMIES... "In May 2001, the Virginia Chapter of the American Civil Liberty
Union sued the Virginia Military Institute on behalf of two former cadets who opposed the non-
denominational pre-supper prayer."

Taxpayers fund Islamic center... "An announcement that the U.S. Marine base at Quantico, Va., has refurbished a building to be used as a prayer room for Muslim soldiers and civilians on base is a "bad signal," one critic has concluded."... where is the ACLU?
_______________________
*But the public education is not the forum for bible distribution," said ACLU Attorney Yale Freeman.

The Founders that gave us the First Amendment is also the same that sanctioned the "Aitken's Bible" and permitted its' printing under the authority of Congress.

Fisher Ames-Framer of the First Amendment

"Our liberty depends on our education, our laws, and habits . . . it is founded on morals and religion, whose authority reigns in the heart, and on the influence all these produce on public opinion before that opinion governs rulers."

(Source: Fisher Ames, An Oration on the Sublime Virtues of General George Washington (Boston: Young & Minns, 1800), p. 23.)

James McHenry-Signer of the Constitution

"[P]ublic utility pleads most forcibly for the general distribution of the Holy Scriptures. The doctrine they preach, the obligations they impose, the punishment they threaten, the rewards they promise, the stamp and image of divinity they bear, which produces a conviction of their truths, can alone secure to society, order and peace, and to our courts of justice and constitutions of government, purity, stability and usefulness. In vain, without the Bible, we increase penal laws and draw entrenchments around our institutions. Bibles are strong entrenchments. Where they abound, men cannot pursue wicked courses, and at the same time enjoy quiet conscience."

(Source: Bernard C. Steiner, One Hundred and Ten Years of Bible Society Work in Maryland, 1810-1920 (Maryland Bible Society, 1921), p. 14.)

Benjamin Rush-Signer of the Declaration of Independence

"The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments."

(Source: Benjamin Rush, Essays, Literary, Moral and Philosophical (Philadelphia: Thomas and William Bradford, 1806), p. 8.)

George Washington-Father of Our Country

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of man and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connexions with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice?

And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who, that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?"

(Source: George Washington, Address of George Washington, President of the United States . . . Preparatory to His Declination (Baltimore: George and Henry S. Keatinge), pp. 22-23. In his Farewell Address to the United States in 1796.)

In front of the Collier County democrats, Freeman said the county shouldn't overlook this incident.

"If we had one religion, one voice saying this is the religion we must practice, we would have a very different society today," said Freeman.

Freeman says handing out bibles is no different than colleges handing out literature and military branches handing out literature in high schools. He says that's all the same thing.

But for Roger Brown, President of the American Foundation for Separation of Church and State, that comparison is nowhere near the same.

"They're passing out non-religious material they not trying to recruit students to come to their church," said Brown.

Brown sited a court case that allows bibles to be handed out in schools as to why he should also be allowed. He added the students seemed to want the bibles.

"The reason is the students wanted them. Had they not wanted them, they wouldn't have picked them up and taken off with them," said Rutherford.

But in a letter written to Freeman by a school board attorney, the attorney states that Rutherford and his attorney have been advised that they are not permitted to continue handing out bibles. The letter also stated that district high school principals have been advised not to allow distribution at the building level.

But Rutherford isn't backing down until the court case is overturned.

"Until then, we will continue giving out bibles in schools," said Rutherford.

The ACLU isn't backing down either. They will continue to monitor the incident and push so that it does not happen again.

This was a production of Stop The ACLU Blogburst. If you would like to join us, please email Jay at Jay@stoptheaclu.com or Gribbit at GribbitR@gmail.com. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll. Over 240 blogs already on-board.

Forsyth Commission to fight ACLU lawsuit

4/12/2007 9:51 PM
By: Kira Mathis
News 14 Carolina

WINSTON-SALEM --

After nearly three hours of closed session discussion on Thursday afternoon, the majority of the Forsyth County Commission decided it would fight a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The lawsuit was filed on March 30 after the ACLU had asked the Commission and several local governments to remove sectarian prayer from public meetings and the Forsyth County Commission did not do so.

The Commission will be represented by Alliance Defense Fund Senior Legal Attorney Mike Johnson. The alliance specializes in this type of legal matter.

After nearly three hours of closed session discussion on Thursday afternoon, the majority of the Forsyth County Commission decided it would fight a lawsuit filed by the ACLU.

"We battle the ACLU all the time, all over the country, so this is not new territory for us, and I look forward to the vigorous defense of this lawsuit and hopefully to prevailing in the court, Johnson told News 14 Carolina on Thursday.

Commission Board Chair Gloria Whisenhunt says the decision wasn't unanimous, but the majority felt that opening meetings with an invocation is an important tradition.

"As we've said all along, we don't think we're doing anything wrong. We think that we have been inclusive in the faith community and we just felt very strongly that we had not done anything wrong," Whinsenhunt said.

And tax payers don't need to worry about how the Commission will handle the legal fees. The Alliance Defense Fund will defend the case free of charge.

Crossposted at Stop the ACLU

American Civil Rights Union blasts sanctuary city policy

Chad Groening
OneNewsNow.com
April 12, 2007

The American Civil Rights Union contends it is unfair for cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles to prohibit law enforcement officers from asking suspected illegal aliens the key question of whether they are in the United States legally. The ACRU, a group dedicated to protecting Americans' fundamental rights and liberties, says it sends the wrong message for U.S. cities to provide sanctuary to those who have come into the country illegally.

Hear This Report

William Otis, director of legal affairs at the American Civil Rights Union, says illegal aliens are not the only ones ignoring the rule of law. "It's one thing for illegal immigrants to do it, and that's bad enough," he observes, "but for people in this country entrusted with enforcing the rule of law to walk away from it just sends a terrible message."
Otis says it is quite a serious matter when cities like New Haven, Connecticut, deliberately ignore U.S. immigration laws by providing sanctuary for illegal aliens, and when police officers in many cities are ordered not to inquire about the legal status of people they encounter.
"As serious as the problems of illegal immigration may be," the ACRU legal affairs director contends, "even more serious is the problem of officials in this country turning their back on the law."
Not everyone who comes into the United States illegally does so because of a desire to work hard for a better life, Otis points out. Recently, he notes, several crimes committed against American citizens by illegal aliens have been in the news headlines.

Crossposted at Stop the ACLU

Parents Can Stop ACLU Lawsuit Against Wilson Co. Schools

Tennessean: Parents allowed to enter legal battle over church-state separation

A federal judge has granted permission to four parents to try to stop a lawsuit filed by the Tennessee chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union claiming that Wilson County schools violated constitutional separation of church and state.
The parents are being represented by the Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative legal group that takes up cases nationwide.

The ACLU filed a lawsuit in September alleging that Lakeview Elementary school in Mt. Juliet and the Wilson County school system endorsed and promoted activities on campus that led to constitutional violations.
The suit claimed, for example, that a group of Praying Parents who met at the elementary school passed out fliers in classrooms to let students know they had been prayed for — a step that, according to the ACLU, broke the church and state separation clause.
The ADF officials said in a statement today that they’re committed to defending people’s constitutional right of religious freedom.
The trail date on the merits of the case has been set for Oct. 9, ACLU officials have said.

Very short article, lacking much information, but here is an Oct.2006 piece from Alain's Newsletter that gives a bit more detail.

Old Hickory, TN –

U.S. Senate candidate Bob Corker today said the Tennessee chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is woefully wrong to have filed what he called a “frivolous liberal lawsuit” against the Wilson County School District alleging a morning prayer endorsed by Lakeview Elementary School officials is a constitutional violation of church-state separation.

“When the President declared September 14, 2001 — just two days after the attacks of 9-11 — a National Day of Prayer, no one sued him for crossing some arbitrary line between church and state,” said Corker. “We just bowed our heads and prayed. When a school in Wilson County or anywhere in our country allows children to do the same on the National Day of Prayer, or at a gathering at the flagpole, the courts ought to stay out of the way."

Corker said he supports the efforts of Mt. Juliet Commissioner Glen Linthicum, who said it was time for the community to take a stand against the ACLU lawsuit recently filed against the Wilson County School District. Linthicum co-sponsored a resolution unanimously approved last Monday night by the Mt. Juliet City Commission that encourages the elementary school and the Wilson School District to fight for their rights to religious expression.

"Like many parents across our state, I pray for my family everyday,” Corker stated. “We should never force anyone to believe a certain faith or pray a certain way," Corker continued, "but if a school decides to set aside some time to allow children who wish to pray to do so, we ought to support that school and community. That is precisely what it means to protect our freedom of religious expression — and I will fight to do just that in the U.S. Senate if elected."

It appears that the ACLU has set it's sights on this school district...The ACLU Targets Christians

ADF's motion to intervene can be found here.

This was a production of Stop The ACLU Blogburst. If you would like to join us, please email Jay at Jay@stoptheaclu.com or Gribbit at GribbitR@gmail.com. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll. Over 240 blogs already on-board.

Crossposted at Stop the ACLU

They came to the quiet garden
in the early morning gloom,
And there in the shadowed darkness
they found an empty tomb.

They brought their scented spices
to anoint the hallowed dead,
but found to their amazement
the Living Lord instead.

Their hearts were heavy laden
bowed down with deep despair,
but when they lifted tear-dimmed eyes Lo,
Jesus was standing there.

They thought all hope had ended
with Calvary's dying breath,
but they found a powerful Saviour
triumphant over death.

On that wonderful Easter morning
in a garden sweet with dew,
He came from the grave -
a world to save -
to live and reign anew.

So oft in the midst of sorrows
when hope seems cold and dead,
with lifted eyes we too may
see an empty tomb instead!


An Unknown Author

Why Fred Thompson’s Day Has Arrived

<> by Christopher Adamo

It is altogether unfortunate that even now, in early 2007, so much focus and attention is being directed at the 2008 presidential election. America’s policy making apparatus would be better served, were the Democrats who constitute the Congressional “ruling class” more concerned with the well-being of the nation, and not so fixated on their noxious pursuit of political power.

Nevertheless, much of the nation’s direction in coming years will be determined by next year’s elections. But a convergence of forces from both sides of the political aisle bodes particularly ill for Republican prospects. While outwardly “bipartisan “ in nature, it is reflective of a pervasive liberal mindset.

Something needs to decidedly change, or else the currently disastrous political tack of the Democrats may be solidified as a harbinger of America’s future, for however long the nation can endure under such gross misdirection.

Throughout 2006, Republican compromise and capitulation to the big-spending, morally bankrupt agenda of the Democrats left the public largely disillusioned and demoralized. And that public sentiment was clearly reflected in the upheaval of the midterm elections, which shifted the country decidedly into the dominion of the Democrats.

Yet the GOP hardly recognized the lesson of last November, and instead has all too frequently appeared to concede to the guiding philosophies of the political left. While Americans grow increasingly outraged by the Democrats’ “cut and run” response to an ever encroaching Islamist malignancy, Republican reaction to the elections have, until recently, been excessively conciliatory and accommodating.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had initially been heralded in glowing terms, by everyone from the most junior House members to the President. As a result, her audacity and that of her cohorts has mushroomed. She now dares to collaborate with America’s enemies during an ill-advised Middle East junket.

Meanwhile, discussions of “bipartisanship” and “doing the peoples’ business” within the Congress (which translates as “spending money”) only serve to bolster the impression that things do go better with Democrats in charge. Moreover, Republican refusal to pursue rampant Democrat scandal and corruption lends credence to the notion that such malfeasance only occurs within the GOP. Clearly, the message of conservatism has been blurred.

Major Republican players such as former House Majority leader Dick Armey have sought to expunge conservative and Christian principle from the party, claiming that it is too polarizing. Bob Dole’s “big tent,” a perversion of Ronald Reagan’s winning concept of bolstering the ranks through inspirational leadership, is once again being floated as a means of “broadening the base,” by claiming devotion to every disparate interest group.

Oblivious to the fact that a watered-down party platform, which largely sidesteps true conservatism, is the primary reason for the GOP's poor showing last November, party “moderates” (read: unprincipled liberals) strain to the left. Though by doing so they will neither garner Democrat support, nor will they re-ignite any enthusiasm among the conservatives who abandoned them last year.

The current lineup of Republican “frontrunners,” led presently by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, epitomizes this mindset. But far from being a winning strategy, it is a recipe for disaster.

In an interview with Barbara Walters just this past week, Giuliani gave an ominous indication of just how his campaign will eventually implode at the hands of the Democrats and the liberal media. When asked about his wife’s involvement in his administration, he stated that, among other things, she would be in attendance at his cabinet meetings.

Once word of this got out, and was portrayed as a possible repeat of Bill and Hillary’s “co-presidency,” Giuliani backtracked, claiming that, as First Lady, his wife would pursue her own interests, dealing primarily with health and fitness. Clearly, neither his first assertion nor the subsequent disclaimer represented any heartfelt conviction, but instead resulted from blundered attempts at posturing and pandering.

In like manner, the lone effort by which he has attempted to woo conservatives amounts to a promise to appoint “originalist” judges to the Supreme Court. Yet he previously lauded ultra-liberal Clinton appointee Ruth Ginsburg in glowing terms. One need only consider this in light of his current incongruous behavior and its potentially dire ramifications, to understand why Rudy’s assurances on the judicial issue hold no weight with the conservative base.

Nevertheless, the “moderates” press forward, believing that a Giuliani victory would garner the power they desire, while ultimately neutralizing the annoying influence of the “religious right.” By the time that the consummate pragmatists who concocted this ill-begotten strategy realize that it cannot succeed, Hillary may well be holding up her right hand and swearing to protect and uphold the Constitution of the United States, so help her whoever.

Enter the former Republican Senator from Tennessee. By the mere suggestion that he might consider running for President, Fred Thompson has completely upset the GOP pragmatists’ apple cart. Without even campaigning, he is presently polling far beyond conservative pretender Mitt Romney. And he is coming on strong against McCain and Giuliani. In an effort to stave off Thompson’s momentum, Giuliani has been compelled to start running ads on conservative talk-radio programs.

Yet Thompson holds several advantages over any of his early-bird competitors. *With the exception of his previous support for campaign finance “reform,” he has staunchly upheld the conservative/pro-constitution philosophy. Thus, he is not burdened by any pile of liberal baggage from which he must extricate himself. He need not attempt to downplay or recast his past, but instead he can extol it as proof of his long-standing conservatism.

*On issues, he addresses head-on the major complaints conservatives have about his record. He was largely stymied in his 1997 investigation of both Clinton-Gore and GOP campaign fund-raising abuses: Key witnesses declined to testify or fled the country, though evidence eventually surfaced of a Chinese plan to influence U.S. politics. He won’t argue with those who say he showed “naiveté” about how he would be stonewalled in his investigation. He says he’s wiser now.

Many on the right remain angry he supported the campaign finance law sponsored by his friend John McCain. “There are problems with people giving politicians large sums of money and then asking them to pass legislation,” Mr. Thompson says. Still, he notes he proposed the amendment to raise the $1,000 per person “hard money” federal contribution limit.

Conceding that McCain-Feingold hasn’t worked as intended, and is being riddled with new loopholes, he throws his hands open in exasperation. “I’m not prepared to go there yet, but I wonder if we shouldn’t just take off the limits and have full disclosure with harsh penalties for not reporting everything on the Internet immediately.”

WSJ.Opinion Journal

Although he has not yet formally announced, all signs point in that direction. Columnist Robert Novak, in an April 3, 2007 article, assures us that Thompson does indeed intend to run.

So, with mainstream America expectantly awaiting the entrance of a true Reaganite candidate into the presently wanting field of Republican presidential hopefuls, Thompson’s best bet is to simply be himself, and make no apologies for standing as firmly as he has. In fact, he should accept every attack on his conservative beliefs as an opportunity to reassert his devotion to them.

By so doing, he could take the White House with an enthusiastic mandate from the grassroots. Furthermore, once in office he would be in an ideal position to re-establish the boundaries of conservatism and liberalism with sufficient clarity to drive the left into full retreat.

Hope has arrived in the 2008 race for the White House.

Christopher G. Adamo is a freelance writer and staff writer for the New Media Alliance. He lives in southeastern Wyoming. He has been active in local and state politics for many years. His contact information and archives can be found at www.chrisadamo.com

ACLU Loses Court Battle to DoD and Boy Scouts

IRVING, Texas, April 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire

Boy Scouts of America is pleased that the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
dismissed the ACLU's lawsuit against the Department of Defense for supporting the National Scout Jamboree.

For more than 25 years, Boy Scouts have held the National Scout
Jamboree every four years at Fort A.P. Hill near Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Scouts from all over the country camp together for ten days and participate
in activities emphasizing physical fitness, appreciation of the outdoors,
and patriotism. Seven Presidents have attended the Jamboree since President
Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937. The Jamboree grounds at Fort A.P. Hill are
open to the public, and an estimated 300,000 visitors attended in 2005
along with 43,000 Scouts and their leaders. The 2010 Jamboree will
celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Boy Scouts of America.

The United States Congress has found that the military's logistical
support for the National Scout Jamboree is an incomparable training
opportunity for our armed forces. The Jamboree requires the construction,
maintenance, and disassembly of a "tent city" capable of supporting tens of
thousands of people for a week or longer.

Nevertheless, the ACLU sued the Department of Defense in 1999 over its
support for the Jamboree. In 2005, a federal district court in Chicago
concluded the Jamboree statute (10 U.S.C. section 2554) was
unconstitutional under the Establishment Clause because Scouting has a
nonsectarian "duty to God" requirement. DoD appealed the district court's
injunction against military support under that statute for the 2010
Jamboree.

I'm having difficulty keeping up with the court, ACLU and Americans United.

The court rules, the Boy Scout's "nonsectarian" "duty to God" requirement is unconstitutional. The ACLU is saying that prayers offered at council meetings must be "nonsectarian" to be constitutional.
Then in more confusion, in the same article, the ACLU said; "It should not invoke the name of a particular religious figure, such as Jesus, Allah or Buddah...", implying that they can't pray to Jesus but Mohammed is okay and they can pray to God but to Allah would be prohibited.

Americans United for the Separation of Church and State has no problem with prayer at a County Commissioners meetings so long as it isn't offered to a true Deity, such as Jesus Christ. Pray to rocks, trees and all the false gods you like, just stay away from the One True God. (an inadvertent acknowledgment of Christ and true religion, but an acknowledgment just the same)

Indiana Constitution

North Carolina Constitution

In today's ruling, the federal Court of Appeals in Chicago reversed the
district court's decision, concluding that the taxpayers named as the
plaintiffs in the lawsuit did not have standing to sue DoD in the first
place.

"We are pleased that today's ruling preserves the training opportunity
for the military that Congress wanted it to have," said Robert H. Bork,
Jr., spokesperson for the Scouts.

"Today's decision allows everyone to get back to planning the
centennial Jamboree celebrating Boy Scouts' 100th birthday," said George A.
Davidson, the attorney for Boy Scouts of America who argued before the
Seventh Circuit last year.

The case is Winkler v. Gates, No. 05-3451 (7th Cir. Apr. 4, 2007).

It's a good win. I just wish it wasn't because of a technicality of standing.


This was a production of Stop The ACLU Blogburst. If you would like to join us, please email Jay at Jay@stoptheaclu.com or Gribbit at GribbitR@gmail.com. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll. Over 240 blogs already on-board.