Posted on 07/13/2011 3:19:25 PM PDT by TaraP
A Wisconsin-based religious freedom group is suing Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a possible Republican presidential contender, in an effort to block his promotion of and participation in an all-day Christian prayer event to be held Aug. 6, arguing that it violates the constitutional separation of church and state.
The Freedom From Religious Foundation, which claims more than 16,000 members, including 700 in Texas, filed the federal lawsuit Wednesday in Houston, contending that Perry’s actions violate the Constitution's Establishment Clause by “giving the appearance that the government prefers evangelical Christian religious beliefs over other religious beliefs and non-beliefs.”
“We always say, beware prayer by pious politicians,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor, who co-directs the group with her husband, Dan Barker, a former evangelical Christian minister who is now an atheist.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I agree with “beware prayer by pious politicians” but I wonder what part of “or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” the Freedom From Religion Foundation doesn’t understand.
Why is the Foundation concerned with state/church entanglement?
First Amendment violations are accelerating. The religious right is campaigning to raid the public till and advance religion at taxpayer expense, attacking our secular public schools, the rights of nonbelievers, and the Establishment Clause.
The Foundation recognizes that the United States was first among nations to adopt a secular Constitution. The founders who wrote the U.S. Constitution wanted citizens to be free to support the church of their choice, or no religion at all. Our Constitution was very purposefully written as a godless document, whose only references to religion are exclusionary.
It is vital to buttress the Jeffersonian “wall of separation between church and state” which has served our nation so well.
******
Taxpayer subsidized as they like to claim against churches!
The Foundation is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. Non-profit status under the Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)3, was recognized originally in 1978, with a final tax-exempt determination in 1980. Contributions are deductible under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code for federal income tax purposes.
At some point, we have to stand up and simply ignore these people and any judge sides with them. Are they going to jail people for praying?
True stories:
A valedictorian was told not to mention anything religious during the commencement speach. Part way through, the student faked a sneeze and the entire student body and parents said “God Bless You”.
At the beginning of a high school football game, a young student speaking from the center of the field, said (over the loud speaker) that she was told that she was not to begin the game with a prayer. She said that she understood the request, but then asked if others would join her in prayer.
Players from both teams came out onto the field and said a prayer. What could anyone do?
Most religious individuals respect the feelings of others. But, they find out that it is OK to let the 1 or 2 protestors know that while they respect them for their beliefs (or non-beliefs), they will pray anyway.
What’s wrong with those folks anyway? It isn’t hurting them, no one is making them pray, now that’s what I call freedom. But evidently they think freedom is making everyone else do what they want. Liberal thinking patterns are so strange.
I would stay out of Texas if I was these asshats...
Telling someone they CANNOT pray is equivalent to forcing someone TO pray. Both are the opposite of religious freedom.
Dan Barker, a former evangelical Christian minister who is now an atheist.
How sad to go from serving the Lord to serving Satan..
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
From article:
A Wisconsin-based religious freedom group is suing Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a possible Republican presidential contender, in an effort to block his promotion of and participation in an all-day Christian prayer event to be held Aug. 6, arguing that it violates the constitutional separation of church and state.
There isn't any law establishing a religion here. However, this group is willingly misinterpreting the First Amendment which clearly states that government [text refers to Congress] must refrain from prohibiting the free exercise of religious expression. The establishment clause of the First Amendment was intended, as it states, to prevent legislation declaring a particular belief system or religion to be sanctioned by law The only violation here is on the part of the atheists.
The Freedom From Religious Foundation, which claims more than 16,000 members, including 700 in Texas, filed the federal lawsuit Wednesday in Houston, contending that Perry’s actions violate the Constitution's Establishment Clause by “giving the appearance that the government prefers evangelical Christian religious beliefs over other religious beliefs and non-beliefs.”
False. Governor Perry is exercising his right to freely exercise his religious beliefs. It does not matter if ten people or ten thousand join him. There is no law barring like minded people from joining him in a lawful act.
By attempting to sue the governor for exercising his religious beliefs, a protected right and lawful act, this lawsuit is a violation by its nature and should be adjudicated as such.
We always say, beware prayer by pious politicians,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor, who co-directs the group with her husband, Dan Barker, a former evangelical Christian minister who is now an atheist. Also
“Nothing fails like prayer,” she said. “It’s the ultimate political cop-out.”
These statements betray a motive which seems rooted in a failure of their own faith. They have no right to impose, or abridge if you like, the rights of others to express their religious beliefs. This is in no way an argument of legality, but personal feelings.
The lawsuit, which comes as Perry flirts with joining the field of GOP presidential contenders, notes that the plaintiffs are “nonbelievers who support the free exercise of religion, but strongly oppose the government establishment and endorsement of religion, including prayer and fasting
An issue which has already been addressed. There is an inherent paradox in this statement. They clearly do not support the free exercise of religion. If the Governor wants to express his First Amendment right, and others wish to join him in a lawful act of free association, there is no question of establishing a religion by law. The plaintiffs are free to exercise their right of association by not participating.
The goal of the plaintiffs is very clear. Any person who embraces religious faith is disqualified from public office. It is yet another violation because it imposes a religious test. Which is unconstitutional.
“The answers for America’s problems won’t be found on our knees or in heaven, but by using our brains, our reason and in compassionate action,” Barker said. “Governor Perry’s distasteful use of his civil office to plan and dictate a religious course of action to ‘all citizens’ is deeply offensive to many citizens, as well as to our secular form of government.”
There is nothing compassionate about the plaintiffs course of action.
The Governor is not 'dictating' anything. There isn't a physical threat or punishment for those who do not wish to attend. There is no coercion.
Perry has mixed religion with politics before. In April, he called on all Texans to pray for rain for three days as most of the state battled an extreme drought that led to massive wildfires that scorched more than a million acres this year, claimed the lives of two firefighters and destroyed nearly 400 homes.
There is nothing distasteful here. No rights were violated.
My opinion? I am fairly certain that the plaintiffs have experienced a crisis of faith, one that has left them embittered, and it is they who are wasting government resources in an attempt to lash out. They 'compassionately' want to inflict, to impose their bitterness upon others.
Maybe "beware of prayer by hypocritical politicians". If there are any "pious politicians" out there, then I say, Let them pray. :-)
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Aggressive atheists will not be happy until every person of faith is shackled, duct taped and kept in the closet. Actually, the atheists will never be happy until they turn their faces towards God. But "live and let live" would be a good start.
Of course, the demands of the secularists and aggressive atheists are entirely unconstitutional. Perry is not creating a State (ie national or federal) religion that everyone must belong to!
Governor Perry's attendance or nonattendance at a religious function is not a legal matter.
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