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Police chaplains lose cross in wake of federal lawsuit [Spokane]
KXLY News ^
| Nov 28, 2007
| Erik Loney
Posted on 12/05/2007 1:10:09 PM PST by lonevoice
SPOKANE -- The cross is coming off the official patch worn by Spokane Police Department chaplains after a federal lawsuit prompted changes inside the police chaplains office.
The removal of the cross stems from a lawsuit filed against the city last year by a senior police volunteer who argued it was unconstitutional to have a cross on an official City of Spokane insignia.
The federal lawsuit, filed by Ray Ideaus, said the patch was illegal and the department's requirement that chaplains adhere to the Judeo / Christian ethic was also unconstitutional because government cannot favor one religion over another.
So now the city has agreed to remove the patch and change the criteria so now non-religious people can also become chaplains.
The head of the chaplains board said he's disappointed and called it an attack on Christianity but said it won't change much because they're still looking for good people to be chaplains.
If we have a person who wants to apply and is capable of dealing with people who have lost a family member and wants to show compassion to them and help officers with whatever issues they have. That's what we want, David Staben, chairman of the chaplains board, said.
Donations from police officers pay the chaplains wages and they can still can still wear a cross or religious symbol on their lapel like the military.
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: 1stamendment; antichristian; atheismandstate; chaplain; christian; christianbashing; churchandstate; churchstate; cross; firstamendment; lawsuit; leo; police; purge; religiousintolerance; spokane
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Further info not included in article: The complainant is an atheist who was assisted by the legal group "Center for Justice".
1
posted on
12/05/2007 1:10:11 PM PST
by
lonevoice
To: lonevoice
Spokane is a physically lovely city that seems to be inhabited by two kinds of people: university students and crusty old blue collar types.
2
posted on
12/05/2007 1:11:56 PM PST
by
wideawake
(Why is it that so many self-proclaimed "Constitutionalists" know so little about the Constitution?)
To: lonevoice
The US Constitution clearly states that the federal government may make no law respecting religion. The laws governing this matter must be State level and local. The Feds and federal should have no part at all in this.
So why is this at a federal court?
3
posted on
12/05/2007 1:13:39 PM PST
by
AndyTheBear
(Disastrous social experimentation is the opiate of elitist snobs.)
To: wideawake
Next they will be trying to remove it from Military uniforms.
4
posted on
12/05/2007 1:14:10 PM PST
by
Rick.Donaldson
(http://www.transasianaxis.com - Visit for lastest on DPRK/Russia/China/Etc --Fred Thompson for Prez.)
To: lonevoice
So now the city has agreed to remove the patch and change the criteria so now non-religious people can also become chaplains. There's a sickness in the land.
5
posted on
12/05/2007 1:15:01 PM PST
by
DoughtyOne
(Mr. President, Article IV Section IV is in our Constitution, and the states it refers to are ours.)
To: lonevoice
6
posted on
12/05/2007 1:16:17 PM PST
by
icwhatudo
(The rino borg...is resistance futile?)
To: lonevoice; sionnsar; Pride in the USA; Stillwaters
It's good to know that should a very unfortunate or tragic event ever bring a Spokane police department chaplain to your door, said chaplain may not be a religious layman or clergy person of any denomination. He/she may, in fact, be an atheist...or a pagan.
7
posted on
12/05/2007 1:16:27 PM PST
by
lonevoice
(It's always "Apologize to a Muslim Hour"...somewhere)
To: lonevoice
“atheist who was assisted by the legal group “Center for Justice”.
I’ve said this before-don’t trust any group with the word ‘peace’ or ‘justice’ in its name. They invariably promote neither.
8
posted on
12/05/2007 1:16:50 PM PST
by
Spok
To: lonevoice
Ensuring the country religiously neutral is the intermediate step toward making Sharia the law of the land. Apparently the Elite is doing everything they can to ensure we will all be Hispanic Muslims 100 years hence. Maybe they figure its easier to rule peons who bow toward Mecca 5X per day than free people who live according to a Constitution. Democracy is so messy, y’know.
9
posted on
12/05/2007 1:17:32 PM PST
by
rbg81
(DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
To: wideawake
And apparently some idiotic liberals and wusses.
10
posted on
12/05/2007 1:17:57 PM PST
by
pissant
(Duncan Hunter: Warrior, Statesman, Conservative)
To: pissant
I said: university students.
11
posted on
12/05/2007 1:18:27 PM PST
by
wideawake
(Why is it that so many self-proclaimed "Constitutionalists" know so little about the Constitution?)
To: AndyTheBear
"So why is this at a federal court?"
Welcome to the world of the 14th amendment, the doctrine of incorporation and substantive due process. These bogus legal doctrines have essentially made each state a wholly owned subsidiary of, and subordinate to, the Federal government.
12
posted on
12/05/2007 1:20:21 PM PST
by
joebuck
To: lonevoice
The first grieving family member that finds out she was was talking to an athiest chaplain, it’s gonna hit the fan.
Talk about the looney left coast.
13
posted on
12/05/2007 1:20:56 PM PST
by
NavVet
(O)
To: NavVet
The first grieving family member that finds out she was was talking to an athiest chaplain, its gonna hit the fan. I should hope so! The police department should be required to change the title from Police Dept. Chaplain to Police Dept. Counselor or to something more accurately descriptive. According to Webster's dictionary:
Main Entry: chap·lain
1 : a clergyman in charge of a chapel
2 : a clergyman officially attached to a branch of the military, to an institution, or to a family or court
3 : a person chosen to conduct religious exercises (as at a meeting of a club or society)
4 : a clergyman appointed to assist a bishop (as at a liturgical function)
14
posted on
12/05/2007 1:25:32 PM PST
by
lonevoice
(It's always "Apologize to a Muslim Hour"...somewhere)
To: lonevoice
When will the Cross and the Commandments come off the collars of Navy chaplains?
To: lonevoice
Dovernment is your new God.
16
posted on
12/05/2007 1:34:03 PM PST
by
Lexington Green
(Not one dime to Hollywood traitors)
To: lonevoice
" .. a senior police volunteer who argued it was unconstitutional .. "What is this .. some old guy that shined shoes?
A retired cop from the Spokane force?
Mahmoud Achmud, recently arrived from Canada forcing EOE sanctions and files a suit?
What's this senior volunteer $h!t ??
17
posted on
12/05/2007 1:38:39 PM PST
by
knarf
(I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true.)
To: lonevoice
While Ray and he Center for Justice attacked Christianity, I would like to see both receive some muzzie justice.
18
posted on
12/05/2007 1:41:40 PM PST
by
isrul
To: wideawake
They are still all A-oles. What else is new?
19
posted on
12/05/2007 2:14:21 PM PST
by
captnorb
To: lonevoice
I’m proud of you!!!!!! Keep the issues in front of us.
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