Federal court allows schools' Jewish and Muslim symbols, bans Christian nativity

Associated Press (via fortwayne.com) ^ | Thu, Feb. 09, 2006 | Associated Press

[newzjunkey]

NEW YORK (AP) - A federal appeals court has upheld New York City's policy on school holiday displays, which allows symbols of Jewish and Muslim holidays but prohibits Christian nativity scenes. Santa Claus, reindeer and Christmas trees are permitted.

The 2-1 ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court judge, who said allowing secular symbols neither advanced nor inhibited religion.

The appeals court said no objective observer would believe the city wanted to communicate to its million-plus students "any official endorsement of Judaism and Islam or any dismissal of Christianity." Instead, the court said, the purpose was to use holidays to encourage respect for diverse cultural traditions.

Dissenting Judge Chester Straub objected that the policy "utilizes religious symbols of certain religions, but bans the religious symbols of another."

The original case was filed by Andrea Skoros, a Roman Catholic mother of two sons who attended public schools, who said the policy promotes Judaism and Islam while conveying disapproval of Christianity. Her purpose was not to bar Jewish and Muslim symbols but to have schools add Nativity scenes.

Skoros' lawyer plans to ask the full 2nd Circuit to review the case or, if that fails, to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

[Kryptonite]

Are they admitting that by prohibiting Christian symbols but allowing symbols for other religions they are doing it out of disrespect for Christianity?

Lemme help you with that question.

[Instead, the court said, the purpose was to use the birth of Jesus Christ holidays to encourage respect for Judaism and Islam diverse cultural traditions.]

The answer to your question is a resounding YES.

[Thorin]

Yes, our courts have declared war on Christmas (but not Hanukkah or Ramadan). Thanks for posting.

[A. Pole]

Her purpose was not to bar Jewish and Muslim symbols but to have schools add Nativity scenes.

Another intolerant Christian!

[Prince Charles]

The appeals court said no objective observer would believe the city wanted to communicate to its million-plus students "any official endorsement of Judaism and Islam or any dismissal of Christianity." Instead, the court said, the purpose was to use holidays to encourage respect for diverse cultural traditions.

Yet another example of guesswork in black robes.

[Condor51]

****This was a difficult story to locate online after I saw it in the San Diego paper.****

It shouldn't have been 'difficult', as it was posted here last week when it first became news. In fact, it was posted it twice and I found them in two minutes using the search function

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1571687/posts
Posted by milford421
On News/Activism 02/04/2006 7:20:22 AM PST · 31 replies · 595+ views

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1572191/posts
Posted by wintertime
On News/Activism 02/05/2006 7:24:59 AM PST · 6 replies · 224+ views

[ariamne]

The attacks on Christianity are appalling and indicative of the liberal hostility towards anything remotely Christian.

Having said that, our founding fathers would turn in their graves at the thought of one "official religion". The islamists would like an "official religion" too. But it is simply not an American value.

[GoodWithBarbarians JustForKaos]

How 'bout this one:

ACLU = Against Christians, Lightskinned people and the USA

[sandbar]

Definition of Diversity: Anything but Christianity.

[bigdcaldavis]

This case has to make it to SCOTUS. Where's the ACLU?

The members of the double-agent ACLU are too busy queering each other at Bohemian Grove with their fellow idiot neo-libs.

This is typical behavior of the neo-libiots. You have neo-libiot NWO scumbags like Judge Cashman and Gay Simpleton (yeah I know her name is Symington, but she is a simpleton...a dumbass) protecting sex offenders in Vermont. You have that other scumbag judge in Ohio protecting sex offenders. Now there's another scumbag NWO judge giving yet another sex offender probation.

This is a message directed to the ACLU : If you're not going to defend my rights as a Christian, don't expect me to defend your rights as globalist scum. If I have to be enslaved in the New World Order control-grid, I'M TAKING YOU BASTARDS DOWN WITH ME!