Posted on 04/06/2005 11:53:06 AM PDT by Electrowoman
Flag shouldn't be lowered for pope, group says
By Matt Pommer April 6, 2005
An anti-religion group is denouncing Gov. Jim Doyle's executive order to lower flags to mark the death of Pope John Paul II.
Doyle's directive appears like "an endorsement of Roman Catholicism over other religious viewpoints," according to the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
On Saturday, the governor praised the pope as both an inspiration spiritual leader and a man who has made "a significant impact on social justice." Doyle cited the pope's fight against communism, his opening of dialogue with other faiths, and his fight for peace around the world.
The governor's office today noted President Bush had directed that flags be lowered to half-staff at all public buildings. The governor's directive matches the president's order.
Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, saw the pope in a different light from the governor.
"The pope was the world's leading sexist," Gaylor said in a statement issued today. "Why should Wisconsin women be expected to revere his anti-woman, antediluvian teachings?" The pope also had been critical of gay marriages, the statement noted.
"Let's reserve the honor of half-staff for true American heroes," Gaylor said.
On Monday, the Freedom From Religion Foundation issued a lengthy criticism entitled "the pope has no vestments." That statement assailed his position against abortion, contraception, sterilization, women's rights, divorce, stem cell research and gay rights.
"Sure, he finally admitted Galileo should not have been condemned by the church, some 350 years too late," the foundation's statement said.
"True, he opposed capital punishment, as most freethinkers do. But think of the capital punishment, slaughters, the witch-burning, purges, tortures and inquisitions committed by the Roman Catholic Church and its followers through history."
"Not this sh** again?"
"Let's reserve the honor of half-staff for true American heroes," Gaylor said.
I'd looove to get an example of what this POS thinks of as a true American hero.
Ok, so make it policy to lower the flag upon the death of ANY religious figure with more than one billion followers.
Just the liberals/Democrats embracing "people of faith".
Someone please inform this maroon that it's Freedom OF Religion, not Freedom From Religion.
Since spiritual beliefs are inherent in the people, she'd have to get rid of the people to be free from religion.
Geesh!
They are? Mine had to be gained through indoctrination.
Isn't it time to be able to run our states and our country without having to deal with the whining and obstructionism of the neurotic and insane? The perverts and the inferior who act inferior?
The Pope is a Head of State. Vatican City is it's own soverign nation apart from Italy.
Beware of women with three names.
"They are? Mine had to be gained through indoctrination."
Sorry to hear that.
Oh you are so right, this is indeed a maroon. There are no words for this BS. Just when I think I've seen it all...
Wow.
And you never left childhood?
I recall, quite clearly, when I reached adolescence, and realized that I could choose for myself what [spiritual beliefs] to believe and what to reject, well... I did.
I believe -or not- entirely on my own. I just assumed everybody could make the same choice.
Our Constitution provides for the free exercise of religion, therefore being self-professedly ANTI-religion (versus merely advocating not practicing any religion) is purely unConstitutional.
I don't think the millions of irreligious folks in Western Europe (where churches sit empty) would agree.
They are? Mine had to be gained through indoctrination.
OK, maybe I should have said :
People, being entities created by nature, have free will, and therefore can make a conscious choice upon reaching their majority to believe in a superior, divine power.
States, on the other hand, are artificial creations made BY man, and have no free will, no consciousness, and no choice or ability to 'choose' or 'believe' anything.
But then again, I didn't think FReepers would sit around picking nits, either!
Actually, back in antediluvian times, the people had a quite liberal view of sexual liberation. Thus the deluge...
Excellent point!
We'd like to help you, but we can't. Just following the law don'tcha know.
U.S. Code
TITLE 4 - FLAG AND SEAL, SEAT OF GOVERNMENT, AND THE STATES
CHAPTER 1 - THE FLAG
§ 7. Position and manner of display
(m) The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff. The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President; 10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress. The flag shall be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. As used in this subsection
(1) the term half-staff means the position of the flag when it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff;
(2) the term executive or military department means any agency listed under sections 101 and 102 of title, United States Code; and
(3) the term Member of Congress means a Senator, a Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.
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