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700 lawyers ready to fight ACLU lawsuits
WND ^ | Nov 24, 2004 | staff

Posted on 11/23/2004 11:44:16 PM PST by ETERNAL WARMING

700 lawyers ready to fight ACLU lawsuits Legal group's 'Christmas Project' designed to protect public schools

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: November 24, 2004 1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

Is it illegal to sing Christmas carols in public school? Or to display a manger scene or even to say the words "Merry Christmas" in those halls of learning?

Many public school officials act as though such prohibitions were clearly laid on in the Constitution and defensively ban every vestige of "religious expression" out of fear of an expensive ACLU lawsuit.

But this year, help is on the way: An army of 700 lawyers is being deployed to protect America's schools from the ACLU grinch.

In the past few weeks, the Alliance Defense Fund has contacted over 3,600 school districts nationwide, explaining the law and separating myth from fact regarding the celebration of Christmas in public schools. Moreover, as part of the group's "Christmas Project," more than 700 ADF and affiliated attorneys nationwide are available – at no cost to the school district – to combat any attempts to censor the celebration of Christmas in schools and on public property.

"The phrase 'separation of church and state' is not in the U.S. Constitution, but because of the fear, intimidation, and disinformation groups like the ACLU promote, many public officials and educational leaders mistakenly believe it is their duty to silence Christian religious expression," said ADF President Alan Sears. "ADF's goal this season is to inform and educate the 96 percent of Americans who celebrate Christmas regarding their rights."

Last month, ADF delivered the same information on the law to every state board of education and National Education Association chapter in the country, as well as to the national NEA office and the U.S. Department of Education.

The goal of ADF's Christmas Project is to clear up misconceptions about seasonal religious expression on public property. According to the public-interest law firm:

The U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled that public schools must ban the singing of religious Christmas carols or prohibit the distribution of candy canes or Christmas cards.

School officials may refer to a school break in December as "Christmas Vacation" or as a holiday without offending the Constitution.

School officials do not violate the Constitution by closing on religious holidays such as Christmas and Good Friday.

No court has ever held that celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas as religious holidays requires recognition of all other religious holidays.

The "Three Reindeer Rule" used by the courts requires a municipality to place a sufficient number of secular objects in close enough proximity to the Christmas item (such as a crèche) to render the overall display sufficiently secular. Although the overall display must not convey a message endorsing a particular religion's view, Christmas displays are not banned as some people believe. Simply put, the courts ask, "Is the municipality celebrating the holiday or promoting religion?"

"We want to dispel the myths about religious expression at Christmastime that have prompted wrongful acts of government censorship of religious speech," Sears said. "It's OK to say 'Merry Christmas!'"

School Districts or public entities being sued over their Christmas displays or expression can contact the Alliance Defense Fund through its website or by calling 1-877-TELL-ADF.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: aclu; adf; christmas; christmasproject; education; lawsuits; lawyers; merrychristmas; nea; publicschools; religiousexpression
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To: ETERNAL WARMING
"...many public officials and educational leaders mistakenly deliberately believe it is their duty to silence Christian religious expression..."

Maybe this legal contact will convince them not to obstruct our children's religious celebrations.

21 posted on 11/24/2004 12:27:20 AM PST by Humidston (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1282122/posts - Blood on the Potomac!)
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To: ETERNAL WARMING
Hallelujah!!!
22 posted on 11/24/2004 12:29:29 AM PST by AnimalLover ((Are there special rules and regulations for the big guys?))
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To: ETERNAL WARMING

Has anyone tried suing the ACLU for infringing on our religious freedom?

Hmmmmmmm


23 posted on 11/24/2004 12:55:46 AM PST by Jammz ("The only thing needed for evil to prevail, is for good men to do nothing.")
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To: ETERNAL WARMING
And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the 
hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I 
should not destroy it: but I found none.
Ezekiel 22:30

Apparently, He has found 700 more. =)


24 posted on 11/24/2004 12:55:54 AM PST by ROTB
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To: ETERNAL WARMING
It's an outrage that US laws, apparently passed during the Watergate era, allows the ACLU to collect attorney's fees for makework----Christian-hatng lawsuits it itself launches.

That means "values voters" have been footing the bill for the ACLU's launching a juggernaut to remove Ten Commandments images, Christmas creches and Christmas carols, taking God out of the Pledge of Allegiance, and because they claim they have a civil right not to see the Ten Commandments, a civil right not to hear the word “God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, not to see a creche of the Baby Jesus, not to hear Christmas carols. The ACLU has collected a huge amount of our tax dollars in this left-handed fundraiser for the ACLU.

FReepers can silence the ACLU with a bit of activism. We need to insist our Congressmen repeal this abusive law that allows the ACLU to get rich on harassing Christian America. Congress must repeal laws enabling the ACLU's Christian-hating activities. Cut off the ACLU's funds and watch them disappear. Here's what we can do.

STEP ONE: We should contact our legislators demanding repeal. A friendly lawmaker must fashion a bill to repeal that FR can push.

STEP TWO The ACLU should be designated a "hate group" and be subjected to existing hate laws.

STEP THREE Taxpayers must demand the ACLU open its books and let us see who is funding them (they have refused to do this).

STEP FOUR The IRS should determine whether the ACLU is properly accounting for all its tax-funded activities, whether it is inflating legal costs, and whether it is using tax dollars for the purposes stated. We need to know whether the ACLU is engaged in Enron-style accounting and spending practices.

25 posted on 11/24/2004 1:00:54 AM PST by Liz
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To: ETERNAL WARMING

You know, you've gotta think of what God thinks about all this. How the Anti-Christian-Loser-Union (ACLU) must sadden our Lord.
Every chance we get, we must stand for righteousness.
God is on our side.


26 posted on 11/24/2004 1:03:13 AM PST by MeekMom (When are the Hollyweirds moving to Canada/France?)
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To: ETERNAL WARMING
Yes, the United States is a religious nation. There is no State Religion but the foundation and the spirit is religion-based - any religion with values. Let us not let the anti-religious change that. Yes, the United States is a religious nation.
27 posted on 11/24/2004 1:07:21 AM PST by Ken K (kenk)
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To: trussell

PING to your list please.


28 posted on 11/24/2004 1:28:50 AM PST by ETERNAL WARMING (He is faithful!)
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To: ETERNAL WARMING
Here is a link to a website that gives a history of the ACLU along with supporting references..

http://www.reclaimamerica.org/Pages/ACLU/decades.html

29 posted on 11/24/2004 1:42:07 AM PST by .45MAN ("God bless America and George W. Bush")
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To: EGPWS
or even to say the words "Merry Christmas" in those halls of learning? Only to the ACLU.

Not just in the "halls of learning." I went to a mall this past Saturday, and the seasonal Santa was ringing his bell, and booming out in his rich bass voice, "MERRY...HO HO HO!" That's it. "MERRY...HO, HO, HO!" He kept repeating it, over and over, like a mantra (which liberals of the more spiritual variety prefer to God-honest PRAYER). Strangely, not too many parents brought their kids over to see this New Age/postmodern/secular humanist "Santa!" LOL!

30 posted on 11/24/2004 1:43:18 AM PST by albertp (Malice in Blunderland, The Wizard of Odd, Gullible's Troubles! Steal the wealth, spread the poverty.)
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To: ETERNAL WARMING
Merry Christmas
31 posted on 11/24/2004 2:37:15 AM PST by Mo1 (Should be called Oil for Fraud and not Oil for Food)
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To: DBeers
We need to attack the Homosexual Loving ACLU. They violate the rights of the MAJORITY and I'm getting fed up with the INTOLERABLE Suppression of MY CIVIL RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OFG SPEECH!! I"M getting like the DUTCH or are they Getting like US!?

we don't have momentum yet..but surely we know how to gain some

32 posted on 11/24/2004 2:49:57 AM PST by sure_fine (*not one to over kill the thought process*)
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To: ETERNAL WARMING

This non-religious citizen applauds these lawyers for taking on the ACLU bullies.


33 posted on 11/24/2004 2:50:12 AM PST by aculeus
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To: nw_arizona_granny

Praise GOD!

BTTT


34 posted on 11/24/2004 3:04:10 AM PST by DAVEY CROCKETT (Character exalts Liberty and Freedom, Righteous exalts a Nation.)
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To: aculeus

I would be nice to see a list of these lawyers. They deserve a huge thanks.


35 posted on 11/24/2004 3:29:24 AM PST by no more apples (God Bless our troops)
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To: Liz

Count me in. I am also going to do some looking into it and get some factual information out in my community.


36 posted on 11/24/2004 3:57:20 AM PST by PleaseNoMore
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To: Iconoclast2; ex-Texan; lady lawyer; ladyinred; Libertina

Freedom ping


37 posted on 11/24/2004 4:19:23 AM PST by Issaquahking ( Bush won, Arafat is dead! Life is good!)
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To: Prime Choice

What you need to understand is that liberals back down the moment you get in their faces. Although we may be outnumbered, we are right in our cause and that is why we will win.

I am an attorney and wil sign myself up with the ADF. I hope others do as well.

This election proved to me that we each can make a huge difference if we get involved.


38 posted on 11/24/2004 4:22:20 AM PST by chris1 ("Make the other guy die for his country" - George S. Patton Jr.)
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To: ETERNAL WARMING

"Thank God", yes. The ACLU has its roots in Nazi Germany. I hope there are enough lawyers to fight them. They will not take God away from me. One way or another I will be with God. The Cultural Marxists have been trying for a long time though now they have us to fight against them. God Bless America and all who have and will continue to defended Her.


39 posted on 11/24/2004 4:31:13 AM PST by JOE43270 (JOE43270 America voted and said we are One Nation Under God with Liberty and Justice for All.)
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To: ETERNAL WARMING

This is fabulous. Let's support the ADF guys.

And, everyone make it a point to say "Merry CHRISTMAS!" every chance you get this season. Especially to those dolts who wish you a "happy holiday" at the stores. (Not sure about the rest of you, but that annoys me beyond words..I always make it a point to respond with "and a Merry CHRISTMAS to you, too". "Multiculturalism" be cursed. 96% of all Americans celebrate Christmas. Let's not let it get pushed out of the culture to make the 4% and the ACLU & other Christian haters happy!


40 posted on 11/24/2004 4:45:59 AM PST by jstolzen (All it takes for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing - Edmund Burke)
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