Posted on 03/08/2007 11:59:23 AM PST by Islander7
TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) -- The state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Newark public school district, saying a school's decision to hold its graduation ceremonies in a Baptist church violated a Muslim student's religious freedom.
The New Jersey ACLU said Wednesday that it was suing the school district because its decision to hold graduation in the church prevented West Side High School senior Bilal Shareef, a Muslim, from attending. Shareef's religious beliefs forbid him from entering a building with religious images, the civil liberties group said.
The incident violated provisions in the state constitution prohibiting public institutions from showing a preference for certain religious sects over others; compelling people to attend a place of worship; and segregating or discriminating against public school students because of their religious principles, the ACLU-NJ asserts.
"Schools should not sponsor activities that exclude some students from participation on the basis of religious belief," said ACLU-NJ's legal director, Ed Barocas, who is representing Shareef and his father.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Was this muslim a vampire and thus unable to physically attend the graduation? No? CASE DISMISSED.
This is why I hate all freakin' Muslims .
"Do you know a lot of Baptists who would go to graduation were it held in a mosque, and if not, would you suggest that it is due to the shakiness of their faith?"
If I lived in an overwhelmingly Muslim country, yes, I would expect such things. I would expect many gatherings to be held in such an accomodating building. As long as they didn't try to make me BE Muslim while I was there, I'd have no problem with it.
> I certainly don't know of any restrictions placed on
> muslims going into Churches.
I looked it up, as well as I could in a few minutes. Apparently, the restriction is only on (as the story noted) churches with images, paintings, sculpture and such like.
Harkens back to the idolatry provisions which, like so much else, are the same for everybody but everybody interprets them differently.
>> "Do you know a lot of Baptists who would go to
>> graduation were it held in a mosque, and if not, would
>> you suggest that it is due to the shakiness of their
>> faith?"
>
> If I lived in an overwhelmingly Muslim country, yes, I
> would expect such things.
How about if it were held in a strip club, bathhouse, gambling casino or someplace else really "sinful"?
"How about if it were held in a strip club, bathhouse, gambling casino or someplace else really "sinful"?"
I'm not sure I understand how a physical structure can be "sinful".
While I certainly have NO respect for the muslim religion, I do have great respect for a government not imposing a religion on a citizen, or de facto forcing them to do something against their religion.
Here, you have a state actor (school) apparently forcing a person to do something that is legitimately against as established relgious belief (going into a Church).
Alas, as much it disgusts me to side with the muzzie, he's correct.
Bit like Nazis having the right to march peacefully in Illinois.
No, but then most Baptists wouldn't consider it a violation of their religous freedom either. It is just a building. This muslim can still worship the moon good till the cows come home.
I think they should have held it on a pig farm with a barbecue afterwords to celebrate.
> I'm not sure I understand how a physical structure can be "sinful".
Good point.
Christians don't have a lot of the more plainly silly ritualistic sin things going on. I bet you'd still get a lot of objections from the parents to holding graduation at a bathhouse, though, even if it was the best available venue.
I'm trying to come up with a parallel to the young man's religious objections, the closest I can come is a strip club with the shows still going on in plain sight. Still no objection?
"I guess the Muslim student is so shaky in his faith that merely being present in a Baptist church would cause him to immediately convert."
Alas, as noted upthread, (if there really is a real objection; I don't think there is) they likely view going into the church to be an endorsement of polytheism, and thus leading others astray --- nothing to do with their personal faith.
I went to Catholic School and our graduation was held in the basketball court. I just figured everyone had their graduation in the school. Now my eighth graduation was held in the Catholic Church of the school I graduated from. I guess it was the difference of kids graduating.
> Bit like Nazis having the right to march peacefully in Illinois.
I'm afraid so.
Funny, I had to go to a non Catholic Church for Easter one year with some friends and I was so nervous (I even went to Mass the night before so I settled the Sunday Obligation). I was so afraid of what was going to go on and happen to me. It was actually quite nice and had almost all the elements of the Catholic Church but a bit different. I still feel ridiculous for having those feelings after all these years.
It's forbidden by Muslim law. It has to do with idolatry, especially if there is an image of God anywhere in the church. However, there should be some wiggle room if it is a plain church with no images of Jesus, God, etc.
Before going off on a Muslim over this, remember that a conservative Jew is also forbidden from entering, or even going close to, a church due to the idolatry issue.
I don't call them the Anti-Christian Lawyers Union for nothing.
lol
The ACLU supports any deviant, perverted cause that destroys traditional American values.
The schools decision probably saved the lives of the entire graduating class.
They are decorated simply, like most Protestant churches, although they do allow images and there will be a cross. The main difference you would notice is they will have a large tank for baptism by immersion, although it can be concealed when it's not in use.
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