Web Site For Atheist Organization Spearheading Anti-Pledge Court Case (9th Circuit Stupidity)

Atheists and Other Free Thinkers of Sacramento, California ^

[Howlin]

I'll just listen to Greta tell it apart.

[Clara Lou]

Greta-- I've been avoiding her like the plague too. I might have to make an allowance today, though. O'Reilly is going to be putting his two cents in about the decision this evening, too.

[bonesmccoy]

Perhaps Freepers can quote this bill signed during the formation of our country!

PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS, in just Punishment of our manifold Transgressions, it hath pleased the Supreme Disposer of all Events to visit these United States with a calamitous War, through which his Divine Providence hath hitherto in a wonderful Manner conducted us, so that we might acknowledge that the Race is not to the Swift, nor the Battle to the Strong: AND WHEREAS, notwithstanding the Chastisements received and Benefits bestowed, too few have been sufficiently awakened to a Sense of their Guilt, or warmed with Gratitude, or taught to amend their Lives and turn from their Sins, that so he might turn his Wrath: AND WHEREAS, from a Consciousness of what we have merited at his Hands, and an Apprehension that the Malevolence of our disappointed Enemies, like the Incredulity of Pharaoh, may be used as the Scourge of Omnipotence to vindicate his slighted Majesty, there is Reason to fear that he may permit much of our Land to become the Prey of the Spoiler, our Borders to be ravaged, and our Habitations destroyed:

RESOLVED,
THAT it be recommended to the several States to appoint the First Thursday in May next to be a Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer to Almighty God, that he will be pleased to avert those impending Calamities which we have but too well deserved: That he will grant us his Grace to repent of our Sins, and amend our Lives according to his Holy Word: That he will continue that wonderful Protection which hath led us through the Paths of Danger and Distress: That he will be a Husband to the Widow, and a Father to the fatherless Children, who weep over the Barbarities of a Savage Enemy: That he will grant us Patience in Suffering, and Fortitude in Adversity: That he will inspire us with Humility, Moderation, and Gratitude in prosperous Circumstances: That he will give Wisdom to our Councils, Firmness to our Resolutions, and Victory to our Arms: That he will bless the Labours of the Husbandman, and pour forth Abundance, so that we may enjoy the Fruits of the Earth in due Season: That he will cause Union, Harmony, and mutual Confidence to prevail throughout these States: That he will bestow on our great Ally all those Blessings which may enable him to be gloriously instrumental in protecting the Rights of Mankind, and promoting the Happiness of his Subjects: That he will bountifully continue his paternal Care to the Commander in Chief, and the Officers and Soldiers of the United States: That he will grant the Blessings of Peace to all contending Nations, Freedom to those who are in Bondage, and Comfort to the Afflicted: That he will diffuse Useful Knowledge, extend the Influence of True Religion, and give us that Peace of Mind which the World cannot give: That he will be our Shield in the Day of Battle, our Comforter in the Hour of Death, and our kind Parent and merciful Judge through Time and through Eternity.

Done in CONGRESS, this Twentieth Day of March, in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-Nine, and in the Third Year of our Independence.
JOHN JAY, President.
Attest. CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.

PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED BY HALL AND SELLERS.

[Eastbound]

"You don't have to say "so help me God" now; you can AFFIRM that what you're telling is the truth."

Looks like that would put the Christian who swears an oath at a disadvantage, as there would be no conscience involved with an an affirmation -- at least in the mind and testimony of the non-believer. Looks like an un-even legal playing field to me. Even without the 'so help me God,' Christians would still be bound, conscience and belief -wise, to tell the truth. I have no idea how this would be resolved -- at least in this world.

[chindog]

I looked at the website, but found nothing about the court case on it. Are you sure you've got the right people?

[Dog]

Here you go as close as I can get to the story Brit Hume was talking about tonight.....

Newdow sues Bush to stop his mention of God...

Newdow, an emergency room physician with a law degree acting as his own attorney, recently lost a bid in federal court in Sacramento to halt President Bush's faith references.

But a federal judge last month tossed out the suit to make President stop mixing politics and his Christian faith.

Newdow, 49, built his lawsuit against Bush around a prayer delivered at the 2000 inauguration by the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, that was based on Christian beliefs and referenced "the Lord Jesus Christ."

Newdow complained that permitting any prayer at a presidential inauguration violated the First Amendment's establishment clause.

And, he said, Graham's references to Christian figures and concepts "further excluded theistic non-Christians" and "showed a preference for a particular religious belief." The prayer made him feel like an "outsider," he added.

He did not seek monetary damages but asked the court to enjoin Bush from drawing Christianity into his duties in the future.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Sudhoff Door argued that courts lack authority to meddle in the internal affairs of other government branches.

[Eastbound]

That's a real can of worms, masadaman.

"We are owned bag and baggage by the corrupt bar."

Where's the original Thirteenth Amendment when you really need it?

[Howlin]

Honestly, her show is GOOD. She really covers the news of the day.......I am surprised that I like it!

[Recovering_Democrat]

if he's from Broward Co., Florida, how did the case get into the 9th Circuit's dirty hands??? just wondering.

[Illbay]

FAST-FORWARDING TO A FUTURE NEAR YOU:

NINTH CIRCUIT RULES U.S. AN ILLEGAL ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION

United States Now Null And Void, Says Court

April 23, 2005 (AP) - The United States Ninth Circuit today ruled that the Declaration of Independence was promulgated on an unConstitutional establishment of religion in its use of such language as "the laws of nature and of nature's God ," "endowed by their Creator," "the Supreme Judge of the world," "the protection of Divine Providence," and "sacred honor."

As a result, the Declaration of Independence is null and void, based as it was on erroneous assumptions about where "unalienable rights" actually come from. Indeed, given the illegal invocation of a mythical "divine being", it is likely that such "rights" are now inoperable.

The Court has decided that herewith, the United States, severally and together, are now under the jurisdiction of the only "supreme judge of the world" and "protector" that can be found, the United Nations.

Speaking shortly after the ruling was handed down, U.N. General Secretary Bill Clinton announced that the U.N. is selling off the individual states one by one, in an auction on eBay commencing on Sunday of this week. The initial bids are expected to be high, as the states are considered one-of-a-kind collectibles.

Details will follow as they become available.

[AppyPappy]

Fundamentalist Atheists.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Daschle and his fellow Senate Democrats have been working on destroying the influence of both God and family in this country since Jeffords jump....trying to pass CEDAW, ENDA and "thought crimes" legislation ...all which go against the Bible and Christianity and pander to what's left of the Dem. core constituents...feminists and the gay lobby...believing themselves to be wiser than God.

Daschle's little performance for the cameras, the pretend outrage at removing "under God" was almost as nauseating as the press's continuing to create a Daschle for America far different from the far-left Daschle working behind closed Dem. doors to undermine a President during wartime and weaken our national security for partisan political purposes.

[goodieD]

"free thinkers" my eye! I prefer to call them "Deiphobes"

[GatorGirl]

***He's a minister of atheism, ordained by the Universal Life Church, a controversial California entity that has ordained millions of ministers of all stripes and beliefs at the mere asking. Newdow says he'll be opening his church, the First Amendment Church of True Science (FACTS), soon, likely on the Internet***

Hold the phone, Tokyo--is this for REAL??? This guy has his own CHURCH and he is attacking a religion???? Is anyone else here as confused as I???

[goodieD]

Believe it or not, there are a lot of Christians out there who will not swear on the Bible.

There is a Biblical reason for this. My family will not swear on the Bible either because; "... I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool; neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communications be. Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." Matthew 5:34-37. To put it as my father in law says "let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no.

[gura]

>Then the oath "to tell the truth, the whole truth, and
>nothing but the truth so help me God" would be next.

Since Islam is the fastest growing religion in the US
maybe it's time to change that to "so help me Allah".

It'd be nice to see all the Freepers upset at this
government endorsement of religion, because they
don't care as long as it's their god.

Which part of ""Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion" do my fellow Freepers not
understand? You'd better take the pledge without "under
God" in it, or be prepared to add Buddha, Allah, and
everyone else's pet deity to it.

And even then the atheists will still be pissed off and
filing lawsuits.

-Scott in KC

[Anamensis]

I am an atheist, and the only people who ever harass me about it are my mom and my sister. I wish other atheists would shut the he!! up and quit bringing negative attention to me. Especially the anti-American types that are giving good capitalists like me a bad name.

[tomakaze]

I'm still baffled by how "atheist" and "freethinker" can even be in the same paragraph.
I know and have met a lot of atheists - and from my experience, most of these people are the definition of fanatical unthinking orthodxy.

[ppaul]

Petition to the President of the United States and Members of Congress

I speak as an American citizen. The recent decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco where the Pledge of Allegiance was ruled Unconstitutional is an attack on America by way of the legal system. We are indeed "One Nation Under God."

To declare that anyone who pledges allegiance to the Flag of our Country is breaking the law is to declare the President of the United States and every member of Congress to be law breakers.

It has become abundantly clear that the two judges that voted for this must be impeached and removed from office. Please use the authority that you have been invested with and immediately vote to impeach judges Stephen Reinhardt and Alfred Goodwin.

To sign the Petition, click HERE.