Posted on 12/17/2010 8:53:25 AM PST by ConjunctionJunction
Feds Force Okla. Bank To Remove Crosses, Bible Verse Federal Examiners Say Religious Decoration Inappropriate
PERKINS, Okla. -- A small-town bank in Oklahoma said the Federal Reserve won’t let it keep religious signs and symbols on display.
Federal Reserve examiners come every four years to make sure banks are complying with a long list of regulations. The examiners came to Perkins last week. And the team from Kansas City deemed a Bible verse of the day, crosses on the teller’s counter and buttons that say "Merry Christmas, God With Us." were inappropriate. The Bible verse of the day on the bank's Internet site also had to be taken down.
“I don’t think there should be a problem with them displaying whatever religious symbols they want to display,” said Amy Weierman, a Perkins resident.
Specifically, the feds believed, the symbols violated the discouragement clause of Regulation B of the bank regulations. According to the clause, "...the use of words, symbols, models and other forms of communication ... express, imply or suggest a discriminatory preference or policy of exclusion."
The feds interpret that to mean, for example, a Jew or Muslin or atheist may be offended and believe they may be discriminated against at this bank. It is an appearance of discrimination.
But customers Eyewitness News 5 talked to said they aren’t buying it.
“This is just ridiculous,” said bank customer Jim Nyles. “This whole thing is just ridiculous. We all have regulatory bodies that govern us. But this is too much.”
“I think that’s absurd,” said Chelsi Holser, a bank customer. “I don’t agree with it at all. They are taking Christ out of Christmas and life.”
The bank is quietly fighting for a clearer interpretation of the clause. Officials have contacted their two U.S. legislators, Rep. Frank Lucas and Sen. Jim Inhoffe, and the Oklahoma Bankers Association to help.
But they didn’t make ‘em burn all that money with “In God We Trust” written on it
Whatever examiner made that decision is a pinhead.
Fight fight fight. Drag the head of that branch of the Federal Reserve and ask him/her to prove that his inspectors are enforcing all parts of the Constitution, including Freedom of Worship. Even the Democrats on his committee will be afraid to support a policy which forbids the display of Christmas trees.
Once this issue sees the light of day, this bull honkey will stop.
Muslims are offended by the mere existence of banks because they "immorally" charge "interest".
If we want to avoid offending Muslims, we should just eliminate the FDIC.
“But they didn’t make ‘em burn all that money with “In God We Trust” written on it.”
Exactly! The entire thing is hypocritical and purely hateful.
WHO CARES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unless the bank is owned by the government, Big Brother shouldn't be able to force the bank to remove those things.
The bank should put up a big “In God We Trust” sign in the lobby and then have the Feds argue it’s inappropriate for the Bank but good enough for US currency.
God, we're a weak country, now...
Exclusion? Why? Is there a sign in the bank that says, “Christians Only”?. Little Hitlers should be dealt with just as we dealt with the real Hitler.
There should be one federal law added that gives the penalty of dismissal and loss of pension for any govt regulator who oversteps his authority in any fashion. It would be wonderful to see these bureaucrats homeless. They are otherwise unemployable. No govt job = starvation. A perfect outcome for these fascisti.
Where, exactly, is the Federal Reserve named in the Constitution as a recognized Federal entity? I see the Army, Navy and Post Office, but no Federal Reserve Bank. I don’t see an IRS either, for that matter.
If they’re not legally a part of our government, then why do we let them act like they are?
The Federal Reserve claims it has to be “independent” of politics. Here we see another example of how the Fed’s insulation from elected representation has gone too far and needs to be significantly curbed.
I don’t remember any previous case in which Fed agents have ordered the removal of religious decorations from a privately owned business like this bank. Is this a first?
Federal reserve bank isn’t part of the government.
Oh good heavens. It's "discrimination" to say something someone doesn't agree with? Then these silly feds are discriminating against me!
Like black oriented Federal services? What about the African-American Credit Union?
Seems like a good strategy here would be to burn up the phone lines to the Federal Reserve and let them know we are displeased.
Exactly, so why are they acting like they have Federal authority over this bank?
Seems like a good strategy here would be to burn up the phone lines to the Federal Reserve and let them know we are displeased.
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