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Supreme Court says Boston was wrong to refuse Christian flag
NBC News / Comcast ^ | May 2, 2022 | By Pete Williams

Posted on 05/02/2022 7:15:58 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Monday that the city of Boston violated the Constitution when it refused to let a local organization fly a Christian flag in front of city hall.

While the case had religious overtones, the decision was fundamentally about free speech rights. The court said the city created a public forum, open to call comers, when it allowed organizations to use a flagpole in front of City Hall for commemorative events.

Denying the same treatment for the Christian flag was a violation of free expression, the court said.

The ruling was a victory for a group called Camp Constitution, which says part of its mission is “to enhance understanding of the country’s Judeo-Christian heritage.” The group wanted to raise a flag bearing a Latin cross during a one-hour event that would include speeches about Boston’s history from local clergy.

Its founder, Harold Shurtleff, applied to use one of three flagpoles in front of city hall. Two of them are for the flags of the United States and the State of Massachusetts. The city makes the third available to private organizations that conduct commemorations in the plaza in front of the building to celebrate the community’s diversity.

He sued after the city turned him down. Boston said the choice of flags on the third pole was an expression of the city’s views. Flying the Christian flag would amount to an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion, the city said.

But the Supreme Court said the city could not censor a religious message in what amounted to a kind of public form. Allowing the Christian flag to fly would not be an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion because it would merely treat religious and non-religious views the same, the court said.

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: boston; christian; flag; libertycounsel; massachusetts; matstaver; speech
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1 posted on 05/02/2022 7:15:58 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Pretty good. We’ll take every win.


2 posted on 05/02/2022 7:18:00 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam (When government fears the people, there is liberty. Excellent. )
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

i.e. they were acting as bigots.


3 posted on 05/02/2022 7:18:24 AM PDT by glorgau
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Boston has woke mayors. The people who vote them in also vote for drunken philanderers who kill people.


4 posted on 05/02/2022 7:19:11 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

It was unanimous? Even wise Latina type justices ruled for free speech of a religious message????? Wow.


5 posted on 05/02/2022 7:26:04 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

So who is going to jail?

L


6 posted on 05/02/2022 7:26:42 AM PDT by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

OK, but what is a Christian Flag?


7 posted on 05/02/2022 7:28:09 AM PDT by laweeks
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Justice Roberts throws a bone to the right.


8 posted on 05/02/2022 7:28:38 AM PDT by lee martell
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To: laweeks

Maybe it was a flag with a Christian cross on it?


9 posted on 05/02/2022 7:35:18 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: laweeks

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Flag


10 posted on 05/02/2022 7:37:06 AM PDT by TexasGurl24
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To: laweeks
They are red, white & blue with a cross in the corner. Look it up. Images I try to post are not working.
11 posted on 05/02/2022 7:48:03 AM PDT by madison10
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Will Antifa be next?


12 posted on 05/02/2022 7:51:03 AM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: laweeks
As kids we learned, and used, a pledge to the flag in Vacation Bible School. Wednesday night kids' activities, summer camp. and sometimes Sunday School. Many churches have them near the platforms.

I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag And to the Savior for whose Kingdom it stands One Savior crucified, risen and coming again With Life and Liberty for all who believe.

13 posted on 05/02/2022 7:56:55 AM PDT by madison10
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Yes, there is a double standard.

Check out a giant Hanukkah menorah at the State House

Governor, Boston Mayor Celebrate Hanukkah in Copley Square

Leaders light menorah on Boston Common

14 posted on 05/02/2022 7:59:43 AM PDT by Angelino97
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To: laweeks

That was my question. I’ve been a Christian since childhood and never knew we apparently have a flag.


15 posted on 05/02/2022 8:02:37 AM PDT by marron
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

IF they let any religious group fly the flag then they have to let every group fly it. I believe that Boston had already flown other flags with religious imagery.


16 posted on 05/02/2022 8:12:14 AM PDT by Republican in occupied CA (I will not give up on my native State! Here I was born, here I fight and die!!)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Here's a link to the decision itself. Interesting read... There was a bit of snarkyness in it.

SHURTLEFF ET AL. v. CITY OF BOSTON ET AL

BREYER, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which R OBERTS, C. J., and SOTOMAYOR, KAGAN, KAVANAUGH, and BARRETT, JJ., joined. KA- VANAUGH , J., filed a concurring opinion. ALITO, J., filed an opinion con- curring in the judgment, in which THOMAS and GORSUCH , JJ., joined. GORSUCH, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which THOMAS, J., joined.

17 posted on 05/02/2022 8:45:39 AM PDT by zeugma (Stop deluding yourself that America is still a free country.)
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To: TexasGurl24

I always thought that was the Lutheran flag since it was in our church. Learn something new everyday.


18 posted on 05/02/2022 9:26:19 AM PDT by W0bee
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Good win and maybe a straw in the wind for the coach trying to pray with his team.


19 posted on 05/02/2022 9:43:47 AM PDT by Midwesterner53
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Christianity has a flag?


20 posted on 05/02/2022 9:51:35 AM PDT by Poison Pill
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