Posted on 12/11/2012 8:25:10 PM PST by Coleus
DALLAS - A San Antonio man says he plans to drop his lawsuit against the city of Athens for putting up a nativity scene in front of the Henderson County courthouse as a Christmas decoration. But he isn't giving up his fight.
In short, atheist Patrick Green said it's no longer a fair fight because Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has offered to step in and assist the city or the county.
Greene's original suit claims the city is helping fund the display, which is a violation of both state and federal law. But he doesn't believe his suit will get a fair shake in court if Abbott is involved and therefore plans to ask the judge to dismiss it. He will file a new one against the attorney general because he claims Abbott's involvement indicates a showing of preference of one religion over another.
"I realized the power that Greg Abbott has. There would be no fair adjudication of my lawsuit with Greg Abbott butting his nose into it. So I'm filing a dismissal because basically it's not going to be unbiased. I want him to mind his own business," he said. Greene maintains he'd like to see the nativity scene moved to private property, such as church property.
Or he said the Texas Constitution would be okay with the nativity scene if there was at least one other religious symbol such as a menorah in the same vicinity. Then there would be no mistaking that the state was not advocating any one religion.
"If the nativity scene was with a menorah and other religious beliefs that would be terrific," he said.
Abbott's office released a statement that said, "Public acknowledgements of religious heritage are constitutional and protected by Supreme Court precedent. The city of Athens and Henderson County have no legal obligation to remove a nativity scene from the courthouse grounds during the Christmas season. The Attorney General's Office stands ready to provide appropriate legal support to further protect religious liberties in the state of Texas."
This jackwagon should sue the town for the way it prunes its shrubs.
I want an unadorned aluminum pole by golly! Festivus for the rest of us.
Just an idea:
Why don’t governments simply RENT “Holiday Advertising Space” to religious organizations?
Yes, that might cost some money, for the local churches or religious groups, but governments clearly have the right to sell advertising space, even a plot of land for “religious advertising”
Of course, some Atheist group might win any bid, but -— lets try it?
I get the distinct impression that desire for government advocacy of religion is proportional to whether or not the religion advocated is near and dear to the individual.
If the billionaire Saudi and Kuwaiti Kings, on thrones secured with American lives and tax dollars, outbid the Christians, would you rethink your proposal?
If you think Christians are going to give up our freedom to worship just so we can deny freedom to others, then you are wrong.
Let not an array of might dismay you Mr. Green. G*d supports the righteous. Oh, wait a moment - perhaps not in your case.
The decision to sell advertising can be reversed if all does not go well
Any RFP can state a dates that the advertising will run.
Hence: I get the distinct impression that desire for government advocacy of religion is proportional to whether or not the religion advocated is near and dear to the individual.
Not sure what you're talking about. I was simply making the point, confirmed by the person I responded to, that interest/acceptance of government advocacy of religion is directly related to whether or not the individual supports the religion being advocated.
I'm more interested in Matthew 6:5-6 than making religious displays on government property.
I get the distinct impression that desire for government advocacy of religion is proportional to whether or not the religion advocated is near and dear to the individual.
The city can’t just put one religion’s display up and reject all the others. So if the Muslims, Jews, Hindus, etc. want the city to put up a big holiday symbol that makes them happy, I am not going to wet my pants about it. If the witches want to put up Halloween decorations to celebrate demons...wait, that happens without moaning at city all every October!
Diversity runs deeper than a man’s hide. The founders knew that and did not want the state to suppress religion. Putting up a nativity scene is not oppressing this tight assed suer. He’s stupid and mean. He would be happier in the Soviet Union. Everything was grey and dead.
It would show the city respects the FACT of religious celebration in this Nation that has come about because of the first amendment. Most days are atheists’ display. Nothing in the yard of city hall. The Scrooge commie wannabe has his celebration on most days.
I don't believe the State should 'suppress' any groups, but refusing to turn the State into an organ of religious expression isn't 'suppression'.
If the State said you couldn't put a Nativity on your property, that would be 'suppression'.
He would be happier in the Soviet Union. Everything was grey and dead.
I don't associate the State with 'everything' in the U.S. I also do not conflate religious displays on private property with religious displays on private property.
I wonder if he’s threatened to file suit over any menorahs being put on display anywhere. This type of atheist seems to only be bothered by Christian symbols.
Atheist and santanic libertines and liberal (same thing) activists are suppressing the first amendment right of Christians all over the country, every day. They forbid Christians to speak as they choose about God, morals and ethics in public spaces, violating their first amendment rights. Try saying “Jesus” out loud. They harass Christian students for speaking as they believe systematically. It’s called political correctness but it is really religious suppression of Christians because it is selective and directed.
They do not do harass and ban the same speech “display” (verbal and art) on Anti-goders, New Agers, Muslims, Myans, witches, public religious displays and speech. Halloween is a paegan religious holiday as is the winter solstace. There are Muslim charter schools- no problem. Christians are banned. Mayan demon god art is the theme of a public park in California and there is not Chritian city park in equality. That selectivity is the government picking a religion for the public. The imbalance is in everything - all areas of the US and our public organizations. That treatment means the State is choosing “correct” religion (system of religious or anti-religious system of thought by suppressing Christians. That makes the state SELECTING religions. That is unconstitutional.
All or none. Harass, police and suppress everyone or no one. I think Christians should seek damages for the illegal harassment. I think they should make life miserable for harassers so it’s not so much fun to be the intolerant piggy bully in the country. Maybe that is just me. I will pray and I will talk how I choose to and your soviet system of religious supression can go to hell. The state can not choose atheism for this country. WE are not a nation of atheists. Religion is art and culture and without the freedom to express it equally, we are the Soviet Union.
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