Court Upholds Ban on Religious Tiles

Las Vegas Sun ^ | June 27, 2002 | AP

[truth_session]

DENVER- A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Columbine High School administrators acted properly when they removed ceramic tiles with religious symbols painted by the families of two slain students.

The decision from the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court ruling, which had ordered school officials to restore the tiles.

The 4-inch tiles were painted in a project to renovate the school after two student gunmen killed 12 students and a teacher on April 20, 1999.

School officials had removed the religious-themed tiles, saying they violated the Constitution's requirement for separation of church and state.

The Virginia-based Rutherford Institute - a conservative group that defends claims of religious discrimination - sued in 1999 on behalf of the families who painted the tiles, arguing their First Amendment rights had been violated.

A U.S. District Court judge agreed, and in October he ordered the tiles restored. Jefferson County Public Schools officials appealed.

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[truth_session]

It needs to be said over and over again: there is no separation of church and state in the US Constitution!!

The issue here is freedom of speech.

[gov_bean_ counter]

I wish just once a conservative would ask one of these seperation of church and staters where the "Church of the United States" is located. You know, the one where the President of the United States is the leader. This whose issue has to be reframed in the appropriate historical context.

[caisson71]

Another STUPID Circuit Court decision. Where are the Bush appointees???????????????????? ???????

[gov_bean_ counter]

sorry, whose = whole. darn compaq keyboard.

[ThePythonicCow]

Like the previous poster said - another STUPID decision !!!

[JZoback]

The issue here is freedom of speech.

Heard it tonight on H&C

"Tyranny of the minority" John Kacisk

[truth_session]

Where is the Church of the United States?

That's a good question. I wonder what our liberal freepers think about that one?

[truth_session]

I wonder why crime has gone down nation-wide since Bush has been in office?

Could it be said that character does matter?

[anniegetyourgun]

These folks probably even paid for the privilege of having one of these tiles as a contribution to the renovation project. They paid for their speech and still it is denied.

[ELS]

Not only that, but why not ask them why they are so intolerant of religious expression? The 1st amendment actually says freedom OF religion (not freedom FROM religion) and the free exercise thereof. Nowhere in the Constitution is the phrase "separation of church and state."

While we are on the subject of church and state, has anyone else noticed that the liberals always mention this separation when they are trying to shove religion out of the public arena, but they never mention it when they are trying to use government power to force religious institutions to conform to their worldview?

[truth_session]

Everybody knows that liberals seek to end freedom of speech as well as religion. They're just killing two birds with one stone--nothing new.

[malakhi]

Where are the Bush appointees????????????????????

Still awaiting committee action in the Senate on their nominations.

[Salvation]

The issue here is freedom of speech.