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ACLU backs Wiccan suit
The Washington Times ^ | 8-10-05 | Dionne Walker

Posted on 08/10/2005 11:25:50 AM PDT by JZelle

RICHMOND -- Civil liberties lawyers have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to allow a Wiccan priestess to offer prayers before a public board's meetings. Cynthia Simpson was turned down in 2002 when she asked the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors to add her name to the list of people who customarily open the board's meetings with a religious invocation. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the suburban Richmond county. In their petition, received by the court yesterday, American Civil Liberties Union lawyers accuse the federal appeals court of trying to "obscure with legal smoke and mirrors" Chesterfield's preference for mainline religions. "Although Establishment Clause jurisprudence may be beset with conflicting tests, uncertain outcomes and ongoing debate, one principle has never been compromised ... that one religious denomination cannot be officially preferred over another," ACLU attorneys wrote in their 13-page filing. County officials said they had the right to limit the prayers to Judeo-Christian beliefs and religions based on a single god.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: aclu; chesterfield; churchandstate; lawsuit; vaaclu; virginia; wiccan
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1 posted on 08/10/2005 11:25:51 AM PDT by JZelle
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Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: JZelle

3 posted on 08/10/2005 11:31:37 AM PDT by FormerACLUmember
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To: JZelle

What's next? Ritual sacrafices or ritual sexual rites officiated by satanic priests?

Somehow, someday, the Supream Court needs to aquire a healthy dose of gravitas and stop all of this non-sensical politically correct bovine scat.


4 posted on 08/10/2005 11:32:30 AM PDT by GLH3IL (What's good for America is bad for liberals.)
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To: JZelle

Inquisition anyone?

Not that I'm seriously suggesting it. Well, not that seriously. Well...I'll shut up now. But the ACLU better shut its word hole, or they are going to dig themselves into a hole they can't sue their way out of...


5 posted on 08/10/2005 11:33:53 AM PDT by Alexander Rubin
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To: JZelle

This is crazy. If the ACLU wins this then every nutburger who wants to call his perverted world view a "religion" has a right to lead any government body in prayer, if prayer is a traditional part of that body's proceedings.


6 posted on 08/10/2005 11:34:12 AM PDT by joebuck
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To: FormerACLUmember

ACLU = Anti Christian Lawyers Union


7 posted on 08/10/2005 11:35:22 AM PDT by TXBSAFH (NHL legend Conn Smythe: "If you can't beat 'em in the alley, you can't beat 'em on the ice.")
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To: TXBSAFH

8 posted on 08/10/2005 11:37:23 AM PDT by FormerACLUmember
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To: JZelle

....and will she sacrifice a black roster or dance naked around a pole?


9 posted on 08/10/2005 11:40:23 AM PDT by Kurt_D
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To: All

Are Christian prayers the only prayers that can be said at a public meeting or event?

And if so, why?


10 posted on 08/10/2005 11:40:24 AM PDT by Madeleine Ward
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To: JZelle

The ACLU should be closed down as the subversive organization which it is. Again Washington continues a patter of supporting runaway abuses of freedoms in this country. When the freedom becomes DESTRUCTIVE, then it needs to be put out of business. The ACLU, and all of its COMMUNIST UNDERPINNINGS, needs to be flattened.


11 posted on 08/10/2005 11:40:31 AM PDT by EagleUSA
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To: joebuck
f the ACLU wins this then every nutburger who wants to call his perverted world view a "religion" has a right to lead any government body in prayer, if prayer is a traditional part of that body's proceedings.

I think you've got it.

And don't forget, the ACLU is also litigating in favor of using the koran in court.

If they win that, your scenario will apply there, as well.

12 posted on 08/10/2005 11:42:04 AM PDT by skip_intro
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To: FormerACLUmember
Cf. Maurice Terry, The Ultimate Evil
13 posted on 08/10/2005 11:43:54 AM PDT by Republicus2001
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To: Madeleine Ward

Was this nation nation founded by witches? On Wiccan principles? Would you want to live in a country that was?


14 posted on 08/10/2005 11:45:26 AM PDT by over3Owithabrain
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To: Jay777

Ping


15 posted on 08/10/2005 11:46:23 AM PDT by EdReform (Free Republic - helping to keep our country a free republic. Thank you for your financial support!)
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To: Madeleine Ward
Our founding fathers would not have thought people would have descended to such a low level of questioning the primacy of Christianity.
They said that the state should not establish a certain official brand of religion(Christianity).
This means Methodist, Quaker etc.
It was of course aimed at not having the official Church of United States. (Like the Church of England).

What they did not intend was to separate the state from Christianity. Only fools today think this.
If they were here today, they would personally horsewhip the ACLU types.
16 posted on 08/10/2005 11:55:09 AM PDT by HereInTheHeartland (The Democrat party is the official party of the Morlocks.)
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To: Madeleine Ward
Are Christian prayers the only prayers that can be said at a public meeting or event?

You are a complete idiot if you need to do debate the wisdom in allowing wiccan prayer in our government.

17 posted on 08/10/2005 12:00:51 PM PDT by Future Snake Eater (The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.)
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To: FormerACLUmember

The only problem with this cartoon is that it should say "Christianity" instead of "religion". The ACLU fights for all religions except Christianity.


18 posted on 08/10/2005 12:02:13 PM PDT by taxesareforever (Government is running amuck)
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To: JZelle

Freedom of religion. If you allow access to one you must grant access to all. If you disagree there are plenty of theocratic nations you might want to move to because the USA is not and should not be a Theocracy.

(going to put on my flame-proof suit now)


19 posted on 08/10/2005 12:03:29 PM PDT by Ignatius J Reilly
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To: joebuck

"If the ACLU wins this then every nutburger who wants to call his perverted world view a "religion" has a right to lead any government body in prayer, if prayer is a traditional part of that body's proceedings."

When you open the door the wind will blow all manner of things in. Sounds like a good argument of separation of church and state to me. No government endorsed prayer no problem.


20 posted on 08/10/2005 12:03:43 PM PDT by ndt
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