Atheist Challenges Inaugural Prayers

Washington Post ^ | 1/14/2005 | Carol D. Leonnig

[siliconpatriot]

Atheist Challenges Inaugural Prayers

By Carol D. Leonnig Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, January 14, 2005; Page B01

A California atheist asked a federal judge yesterday to stop President Bush from having two Protestant ministers say prayers at the inauguration, arguing that it would violate his constitutional rights to the separation of church and state.

Michael Newdow, a lawyer and doctor who has fought to keep his daughter from being exposed to the Pledge of Allegiance in her public school, said the inauguration is perhaps the most public of all government-sponsored national ceremonies. It should not provide the president with an opportunity to make nonreligious citizens and non-Protestants feel like outsiders, he said.

[siliconpatriot]

I am SO sick of these people.

1. This country was founded by Christians looking for a place where they could worship freely.

2. If they are so offended or feel so "uncomfortable" by any mention of God, then I will gladly unburden them of their money that says "In God We Trust" on it. I am here to help.

[Texas Eagle]

Mr. Newdow, how's about you don't watch the Inauguration?

Do I have to think of everything around here?

[Bottom_Gun]

yep..this gentleman ( and I use that term loosly) needs a trip behind the woodshed!

[Kitanis]

I wonder if this guy realizes that each day.. Both the House and Senate starts their sessions with a prayer.


I do believe that the oath at inauguration is also placed from the Bible is it not?

[Jay777]

You can join the fight against the ACLU and their ilk by becoming involved with and supporting the following organizations:

Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) - http://www.alliancedefensefund.org

Thomas More Law Center (TMLC) - http://www.thomasmore.org

American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) - http://www.aclj.org

The Rutherford Institute - http://www.rutherford.org/

Stop the ACLU Coalition - http://www.stoptheaclu.org

Here are a few examples of how two of those organizations are fighting back:

ADF Contacts Over 3,600 School Districts Over Attempts To Censor Christmas

ADF: 700 lawyers ready to fight ACLU lawsuits

ADF: Pentagons' Warning About Boyscouts Is Absurd

Thomas More Law Center: Town of Palm Beach Pays $50,000 In Attorney Fees Apologizes To Women In Nativity Lawsuit

Additional information:

The ACLU must be destroyed: Joseph Farah supports Boy Scouts, urges Americans to fight back

Citizens mobilized to stop ACLU (seeks to consign group to 'ash heap of history')

ACLU fulfilling communist agenda

Revealing FACTS on the ACLU from its own writings

See how YOUR Senator or Representative ranks with the ACLU

This yahoo group just started on December 3, 2004 and is looking for new members

Anti-ACLU Page

Let me know if you would like to join my ACLU ping list

You can join the fight against the ACLU and their ilk by becoming involved with and supporting the following organizations:

Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) - http://www.alliancedefensefund.org

Thomas More Law Center (TMLC) - http://www.thomasmore.org

American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) - http://www.aclj.org

The Rutherford Institute - http://www.rutherford.org/

Stop the ACLU Coalition - http://www.stoptheaclu.org

Here are a few examples of how two of those organizations are fighting back:

ADF Contacts Over 3,600 School Districts Over Attempts To Censor Christmas

ADF: 700 lawyers ready to fight ACLU lawsuits

ADF: Pentagons' Warning About Boyscouts Is Absurd

Thomas More Law Center: Town of Palm Beach Pays $50,000 In Attorney Fees Apologizes To Women In Nativity Lawsuit

Additional information:

The ACLU must be destroyed: Joseph Farah supports Boy Scouts, urges Americans to fight back

Citizens mobilized to stop ACLU (seeks to consign group to 'ash heap of history')

ACLU fulfilling communist agenda

Revealing FACTS on the ACLU from its own writings

See how YOUR Senator or Representative ranks with the ACLU

This yahoo group just started on December 3, 2004 and is looking for new members

Anti-ACLU Page

Let me know if you would like to join my ACLU ping list

[Jay777]

Ping!

[Common Sense 101]

Two words for Mr. Newdow and his merry gang of like-minded liberal supporters... "legal standing".

You're 2 1/2 minutes past your 15... Fade into obscurity where you belong, asswipe.

[mware]

I wonder if he has a clue of what book the president is sworn in on???

[atomicpossum]

It should not provide the president with an opportunity to make nonreligious citizens and non-Protestants feel like outsiders, he said.

Again, it all distills down to the premise that anyone having a stand or position or belief deprives someone who does not hold that view. In other words, that freedoms are comprimised when someone exercises their freedom. Therefore, the very premise of freedom is the license to stifle it...If you're offended (or made to just 'feel bad'), the other person's freedom can be squashed.

Interesting (and twisted) notion. And, of course, it only is applied depending on who is the aggrieved...

[FormerLib]

I'd REALLY REALLY REALLY enjoy beating this weasel to a pulp.

That his actions should have this effect on you is proof, to me anyway, that Satan is his true master.

[NVD]

he will now become a three time loser!

[Jay777]

Help Protect the Inaugural Prayer!


Add your name to the group of 20,543 people who have already signed using the Internet!

http://www.aclj.net/entrance/enter.cfm?dn=1008&source=2036&CFID=567894&CFTOKEN=91018232

[Phsstpok]

From information about the previous Pledge of Alegience case:

Newdow is representing himself and, although an atheist, identifies himself to the Court as "the Reverend Dr. Michael Newdow," minister in The First Amendmist Church of True Science (FACTS).

This means that he is trying to establish his religion (atheism) as the State religion by court order. I'd say that is explicitely what is prohibited by the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Wow! Now that's freedom of speech.

I for one,am glad he is doing this. It shows we believe in our freedoms that we allow these discussions to happen. I'm not threatened by a continuous questioning of how we seperate any " state supported religion" from "freedom of religion". It keeps me from being persecuted by someone else who doesn't agree with my spirituality or religion.

[Jay777]

From the ACLJ website:

Is it possible for Michael Newdow to succeed in removing prayer from the Inaugural ceremonies?


Alan from North Carolina asks: If Michael Newdow is successful in the case involving the Inaugural prayer, where will it go from there?

Jay answers: The Justice Department has filed their briefs trying to get the case dismissed. We filed our friend-of-the-court briefs in favor of the Justice Department’s position that it is legal to have prayer at the Inaugural. If Michael Newdow succeeds, the case would go to the court of appeals on an expedited basis. It could then go to the Supreme Court on an expedited basis. If Michael Newdow is aggressive, this case can move very, very quickly. The case could go from the district court today to the Supreme Court of the United States by the weekend. Though more than likely it would be Monday or Tuesday before the Supreme Court would hear it.

Michael Newdow will make the argument himself. We can’t take anything for granted; while he wasn’t successful at the Supreme Court, he was able to get the "under God" statement removed from the Pledge at the Ninth Circuit. There’s nothing safe to assume about litigation at anytime, and in Mr. Newdow’s case, he’s learning as he goes along in his efforts to remove God from American life. Jim Henderson, Senior Counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, will give us a report on Friday’s broadcast about the proceedings in the case. Obviously, we’ll keep everybody posted on the website as well

[HMFIC]

I agree to disagree. I once beat the living sh&t out of a flag burner back in 83. Felt great then and a great memory now. Newdow is trying to force HIS beliefs on others. My kids LIKE saying the Pledge JUST THE WAY IT IS. Who the hell is NEWDOW to tamper with it. Freedom of speech gives one the OPPORTUNITY to air their views but not the FREEDOM FROM HEARING OPPOSITION TO IT!

[melbell]

Um...Bush is a Christian...so he can have prayers in his inauguration...if this guy ever gets elected president, then he doesn't have to have them.

Nor does he have to watch or participate in the ceremonies in any way....idiot

[Lou L]

I wonder if this guy ever attended a religious wedding? Or a baptism? Maybe a funeral of a friend or associate? My instinct would tell me that yes, he has. My instinct would also tell me that while he may not have personally believed in the words that must've been said, particularly when they might have invoked God, or Our Saviour, or eternal life--the loser knew better than to open his mouth.

His actions in this case are frivolous, and nothing more than self-aggrandizement. He doesn't care what happens in a Presidential inauguration; he may have never watched an entire inauguration in his life. The event serves only as a platform for his "issue."

[rockabyebaby]

Keeping up with the ACLU antics is a freakin' full time job!