Posted on 11/23/2004 11:44:16 PM PST by ETERNAL WARMING
700 lawyers ready to fight ACLU lawsuits Legal group's 'Christmas Project' designed to protect public schools
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: November 24, 2004 1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com
Is it illegal to sing Christmas carols in public school? Or to display a manger scene or even to say the words "Merry Christmas" in those halls of learning?
Many public school officials act as though such prohibitions were clearly laid on in the Constitution and defensively ban every vestige of "religious expression" out of fear of an expensive ACLU lawsuit.
But this year, help is on the way: An army of 700 lawyers is being deployed to protect America's schools from the ACLU grinch.
In the past few weeks, the Alliance Defense Fund has contacted over 3,600 school districts nationwide, explaining the law and separating myth from fact regarding the celebration of Christmas in public schools. Moreover, as part of the group's "Christmas Project," more than 700 ADF and affiliated attorneys nationwide are available – at no cost to the school district – to combat any attempts to censor the celebration of Christmas in schools and on public property.
"The phrase 'separation of church and state' is not in the U.S. Constitution, but because of the fear, intimidation, and disinformation groups like the ACLU promote, many public officials and educational leaders mistakenly believe it is their duty to silence Christian religious expression," said ADF President Alan Sears. "ADF's goal this season is to inform and educate the 96 percent of Americans who celebrate Christmas regarding their rights."
Last month, ADF delivered the same information on the law to every state board of education and National Education Association chapter in the country, as well as to the national NEA office and the U.S. Department of Education.
The goal of ADF's Christmas Project is to clear up misconceptions about seasonal religious expression on public property. According to the public-interest law firm:
The U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled that public schools must ban the singing of religious Christmas carols or prohibit the distribution of candy canes or Christmas cards.
School officials may refer to a school break in December as "Christmas Vacation" or as a holiday without offending the Constitution.
School officials do not violate the Constitution by closing on religious holidays such as Christmas and Good Friday.
No court has ever held that celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas as religious holidays requires recognition of all other religious holidays.
The "Three Reindeer Rule" used by the courts requires a municipality to place a sufficient number of secular objects in close enough proximity to the Christmas item (such as a crèche) to render the overall display sufficiently secular. Although the overall display must not convey a message endorsing a particular religion's view, Christmas displays are not banned as some people believe. Simply put, the courts ask, "Is the municipality celebrating the holiday or promoting religion?"
"We want to dispel the myths about religious expression at Christmastime that have prompted wrongful acts of government censorship of religious speech," Sears said. "It's OK to say 'Merry Christmas!'"
School Districts or public entities being sued over their Christmas displays or expression can contact the Alliance Defense Fund through its website or by calling 1-877-TELL-ADF.
We're outnumbered at least by 10 to 1, but we're RIGHT! May the Good Lord look favorably on their undertaking.
We need to attack the Homosexual Loving ACLU. They violate the rights of the MAJORITY and I'm getting fed up with the INTOLERABLE Suppression of MY CIVIL RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OFG SPEECH!! I"M getting like the DUTCH or are they Getting like US!?
This is an atheist Jihad and must be seen as such. This is all about promoting godless atheism in America. America has too much faith in God for the commies, the multi-culties and the libs of the world. USSR repressed religion, the ACLU tries the same. Bunch of anarchist scumbag lawyers with too much time on their hands.
I can imagine the "war stories" they swap at their cocktail parties.
Only to the ACLU.
Or to display a manger scene
Only to the ACLU.
or even to say the words "Merry Christmas" in those halls of learning?
Only to the ACLU.
Excellent!
Someone has an agenda to fight fire with water....finally!
Moral Absolutes Ping. Good news. The Constitution guarantees freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. When I was a small kid, we always had Christmas plays, Christmas carols, and Christmas decorations. We even had the Lord's prayer. I was raised in a non-religious household, and these were about the only touch of religion I had.
I'm grateful for the memories. Maybe that little touch helped me later on!
I like the pro-active attitude of the Alliance Defense Fund. Why wait until the inevitable attack of the ACLU and its ilk? Put THEM on the defensive. Schools have already surrendered to the dark side. Liberate the kids! Let some light shine in!
Let me know if anyone wants on/off this pinglist.
HIT THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND DEMAND THIS RULING THAT ALLOWS ACLU'S ATTORNEYS TO COLLECT FEES FROM PROSECUTION BE OVERTURNED. THE ACLU WILL DISAPPEAR! 1-800-648- 3516
These attacks will stop if that ruling is repealed! We need someone with guts to sponsor it!
Why don't we band together to pass the word to all school districts near us? In order to do this, we need some authority so that if the ACLU bothers these districts, then the Alliance Defense Fund will take over.
I realize it is ambitious, but if it is feasible, why not?
Would somebody write to the ADF for that authorization?
Please advise me.
LMAO -why so passive?
:)
Ping
Someone pass the popcorn and soda, this is going to be fun to watch. :D
Sounds as though it would be best to get in touch with these Defense Fund lawyers, get documents/papers from them, and then meet with school board guys or better yet, principals and school authorities.
If you are a parent of kids in school, that might be a good way to go about it. Maybe if you know any teachers, talk to them and let them know. Letters to the editor in the local paper. Or if you have money, local radio ads.
Or how about this? If you are a churchgoer, get the above mentioned documents, xerox them, and hand them out to everyone at church, or make them available. Get them to other churches in your area so as many people as possible will know. It's a little late in the season for this, but your idea of local action is VERY GOOD!
The more people know about this, the better.
Probably if you click the link to World Net Daily, their article about this on their website may have a link to the Alliance Defense lawyers. Or the editors of WND may be able to help you.
Just like to MOSEY !!
Donation going out.
man i will believe the ACLU when they do the same to Muslim holiday...until then they are racist, anti religious zealots.
can someone please explain in plain english what the hell is wrong with christmas carols....
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