Posted on 06/10/2005 4:51:52 PM PDT by CHARLITE
"Anything short of actual imprisonment would be ineffective..." -- ACLU of Louisiana
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew5:10
In their latest attack on Christianity, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a motion to hold Tangipahoa school board officials in Louisiana in contempt of court, asking they be jailed for praying in schools.
The Tangipahoa school board and the ACLU of Louisiana entered into an agreement, made public in an August 27, 2004, District Court Consent Judgment, which required school officials to prohibit “invocations given prior to athletic events,” “participation and/or encouragement by school officials in pre-game and post-game prayers involving student athletes,” and “invocations by students to the student body over the school’s public address system during assemblies or at any school sponsored event.” The ACLU claims school officials have violated the agreement on multiple occasions. This motion is the fourth complaint they’ve filed against the school board.
Even though this is considered a civil matter, the ACLU has asked the court to hold school officials in criminal contempt, asking for jail time. “Their refusal to comply with the Consent Decree should and must result in their removal from society—removal for a period of time sufficient to impress upon them, and like imitators, the seriousness of the Court’s order,” reads the complaint. “Anything short of actual imprisonment would be ineffective to sending that message to these individuals.”
What? This “must result in their removal from society”? Are we talking about child molesters here? Sorry, that can’t be it; those are the kind of people the ACLU would be defending instead of trying to put in jail. The ACLU defends the North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) and tries to get school officials in jail for praying --you know the real criminals.
Tragically, although I fully expect the court to reject this ridiculous request, the ACLU still moves its agenda forward with every lawsuit they bring. You see, it doesn’t really matter if they win or loose, by their own admission, what they want is to impress “like imitators” of the price to be paid for showing their faith in public. And unfortunately the courts have allowed and often helped them in this endeavor.
With their highly capricious interpretation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause as erecting a “wall of separation between church and state,” U.S. courts find themselves more involved in matters of religion than the framers ever intended them to be. Is there anything more intrusive than the government sending you to jail for praying, no matter where it is?
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …” That’s all the First Amendment says. Nowhere can you find the “wall of separation” between church and state. Yet, in the name of freedom and liberty, groups like the ACLU would like to prohibit the free exercise of religion beyond a person’s private thoughts. “That’s okay, you can be a Christian, just don’t say it out loud.”
“This is another example of how the so-called ‘wall of separation’ continues to distort the meaning of the Establishment Clause, said Jan LaRue, CWA’s chief counsel. “Chief Justice Rehnquist has said: ‘It is impossible to build sound constitutional doctrine upon a mistaken understanding of constitutional history, but unfortunately the Establishment Clause has been expressly freighted with Jefferson’s misleading metaphor for nearly 40 years.’”
This is why the appointment of judges is so important to our country. For too long we’ve been silent, and now we are paying the price of our indifference. We need wisdom and character and self-control back in our courts. Freedom and democracy depend on it.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be filled." Matthew 5:6
Concerned Women for America
1015 Fifteenth St. N.W., Suite 1100
Washington, D.C. 20005
Phone: (202) 488-7000
Fax: (202) 488-0806
.....it's coming down to either the aclu or america.....
A little death is a highly underrated motivator.
The ACLU has a severe case of cerebro-rectalopathy
Moral Absolutes Ping.
The frog was put into the cold water, didn't notice a thing. The fire was started, the water started to warm up to lukewarm; still no problem for the frog - in fact, it was kind of relaxing. By the time it got to a rolling boil, froggie was cooked.
What temperature is the water now? Are we done yet?
If an article like this was in a newspaper 15 or even 10 years ago, no one would believe it. But the ACLU and their ilk are not finished with civilization yet. Ever read about Nazi Germany? It didn't happen overnight. Lot of frogs got comfy, and then boiled.
Let me know if you want on/off this pinglist.
So you think Jesus was saying that public prayer should be rewarded with a jail sentence? What about services in houses of worship - they should all be disbanded? What exactly is your point?
don't you get what he's saying? treatment of Christian vs Muslims(at Guantanamo)= double standard.
OK. Pretty subtle. I agree with the analysis, but the statement itself won't win any awards for profundity...
The interpretation is up to you. Why do you think Jesus said this? Do you think he wants prayers blasted over public address systems?
What about services in houses of worship - they should all be disbanded? What exactly is your point?
You should be asking the author.
Yeah, I want to know that, too. Why is it that the minority, whatever it happens to be, always gets what it wants; while the majority, whatever it is, always doesn't, whenever the ACLU is involved?
Why is that?
Now don't start picking on women of a certain age just because one happens to be a pain in the A**!
I wonder why they have not sued the House and the Senate because they dare to open their sessions with prayer?
How about illegal immigrants?
You got that right! I don't want my money going for it either. I wish we could check some boxes on our tax returns saying what we don't want our money being spent on.
There are many more examples of public prayer in the New Testament.
The rule: There is a place of personal prayer and there is a place for public prayer.
6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
I've never understood why its ok to ignore this.
vain = pointless, directionless
repetition = saying over and over again
Jesus wasn't in favor of dramatic, overdone prayers.
Jesus also clearly said what we should say when we pray.
I wonder why Peter didn't recite the Lord's prayer when he prayed in Acts 4?
I wish they would. They could end the debate once and for all.
The ACLU turns my stomach the way they are pushing people around (with the help of some judges, unfortunately).
"I think the ACLU is about to hurt themselves"
Let's hope so.
gulp
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