ADL Says Supreme Court Decision on Vouchers "Step Backwards" for Church-State Separation

ADL.org ^

[RCW2001]

ADL Says Supreme Court Decision on Vouchers "Step Backwards" for Church-State Separation

New York, NY, June 27, 2002... The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed disappointment with today's Supreme Court ruling permitting governments to continue to pay for private religious education, calling it "a step backwards for religious liberty." The League pledged to continue to oppose vouchers on policy and state constitutional grounds.

Glen A. Tobias, ADL National Chairman, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

The Supreme Court's decision to allow state funds to be given to private religious schools is a disappointment and a step backwards for religious liberty in America. However, our opposition to vouchers has never been limited to federal constitutional grounds alone, and we will continue to oppose them on policy and state constitutional grounds.

We view this decision as extremely limited in its impact. The ruling is narrow and applies only to the specific fact pattern presented in Cleveland. While voucher supporters were hoping for a green light for the use of vouchers in a wide range of contexts, that is not what this decision does.

We are confident that legislators and voters will continue to oppose vouchers on policy grounds. Indeed, wherever Americans have had an opportunity to vote on vouchers, they have rejected them outright. Americans support free and fair public education and are uneasy about government funding for religious schooling.

ADL filed an amicus brief in Harris-Simmons vs. Zelman, urging the Supreme Court to uphold earlier decisions by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. District Court, which had rejected vouchers as unconstitutional. ADL had argued that separation of church and state is essential to religious liberty in America.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

[another cricket]

You know the worth of an idea by who hates it.

a.cricket

[Always Right]

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed disappointment with today's Supreme Court ruling permitting governments to continue to pay for private religious education, calling it "a step backwards for religious liberty." The League pledged to continue to oppose vouchers on policy and state constitutional grounds.

What is the world do vouchers have to do with anti-defamation???

[JustSayNoNWO]

The teacher's unions are really scared on this one. Hmm.... that must mean the Supreme Court hit a good ruling on this one then.

[gov_bean_ counter]

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry. The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

Missing the connection here between their stated mission and the issue of vouchers.

[11th Earl of Mar]

Liberal argument for abortion- "If you don't like abortion, don't get one."

Conservative argument for vouchers- "If you don't like them, don't use them."

[gov_bean_ counter]

Unless of course they want to say mentioning Jesus to Jews is a hate crime.

[Tanniker Smith]

"Step Backwards" for Church-State Separation

Which is a good thing.

TS
(hmmmmmm, quoting Martha Stewart, am I???)

[rmlew]

ADL strikes blow against Jewish education in its pursuit of PC uber Juden.

[goldstategop]

The ADL says the effect of the U.S Supreme Court's ruling is "limited." Like all liberals they are in denial, delusional, or both. The truth of the matter is upholding vouchers, along with the 9th Circuit's incredibly moronic decision holding the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional, will accelerate public flight from the government schools. What's ironic is the ADL's greatly treasured public education system will start collapsing from within. You can't reform it after all. "Limited" ruling indeed. Within a decade or so the only people attending government schools will be the few who are unaware of the alternatives or those who preferred to be subjects of indoctrination by the Left. When all is said and done, the SCOTUS decision is less a vindication of vouchers than it is a death knell for the public education system the ADL has spent its entire existence trying to preserve in the face of reality.

[Frohickey]

The ADL better NOT be a non-profit!!!

[Jim Noble]

A step in the right direction is what it is.

[Alberta's Child]

You beat me to it. Whenever one of these so-called anti-defamation groups becomes nothing more than a "religious" arm of the ACLU, there's no reason to take them seriously anymore.

Foxman is nothing more than a leftist shmekel, as far as I'm concerned.

[Nachum]

It's not that they are "uber", it is that the level of fear they have is tremendous. Even if it is at the expense of common sense.

[liberalism=failure]

Its sad to see so many left wing organizations masquerading as legitimate organizations.

[masadaman]

The ADL is non-profit and like many, many non-profits has strayed from its original and laudable objective to be a champion of all left wing causes if only to gain new funding which would otherwise not be forthcoming. Huge staff, highly paid CEOs, these self-perpetuating behemoths are patrons of the left and stealth 'off the books' front and center political hacks for the DNC.

A short list of others include the American Red Cross (of $1.2 billion raised on the back of the September 11 attack less than 30% has made its way to victims and their families), virtually all AFL-CIO unions; the various federal and state employee unions ... duh but why does a civil service employee need a union? And of course fifty or 100 major tax free foundations whose founders would not be spinning in their graves but totally vaporizing if they knew that their bequests were used to support the left..Rockefeller, Ford, Pew to name just three.

[THUNDER ROAD]

"Foxman is nothing more than a leftist shmekel, as far as I'm concerned."

I'll Second that Opinion !

THUNDER

[Sam Cree]

Groups like the ADL, in their fight against anti-semitism, always seek to increase and centralize govenment power, in short, they push for socialism. Their hope is that an all powerful government will protect them.

Ironically, what they are working for is to create the very conditions that have made anti-semitism such a disease in Europe, and to destroy the American traditions based on the sanctity of the individual that have kept it from reaching full flower here. Their all powerful government will have them and everyone else at its mercy.

[Michael2001]

The ADL is just mad because they're becoming irrelavant. Screw 'em.