tagged w/ Separation of Church and State
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When South Carolina's DMV began producing license plates with a cross and the words "I believe," UU Minister Rev. Dr. Neal Jones (of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Columbia), was one of the leading protesters. The DMV was sued and now cannot use any government funding to produce the plates, they are instead being made through a private group.
The Reverend has no objection to new plans to produce the specialty license plate, which would look exactly like the one ruled unconstitutional, because it’s being done by a private group. “And that way, the government is not giving its seal of endorsement to any religion, which is the way it should be. As a minister and as a religious person, I don’t want the government meddling in my religion,“ he says.
Rev. Jones also stated, “It’s funny, some people think that those of us who brought the lawsuit are somehow anti-Christian or anti-religious. We’re all ministers, so that’s obviously not the case. We all stand for the Constitution because we stand for separation of church and state. And we have learned through history the hard way that, when you mix politics and religion, both democratic government and religion suffer.“When South Carolina's DMV began producing license plates with a cross and the words "I... more
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The event sounds like yet another Tea Party protest, or perhaps an encore of last weekend's Values Voter Summit: Devout believers joining together this Friday to pray on Capitol Hill for the soul of America.
Who could argue with that? Well, when the believers happen to be Muslims, and there could be as many as 50,000 of them kneeling to pray in Arabic, yes, you could see how there might be some blowback from the usual suspects.
Indeed, the online publication from David Horowitz, FrontPageMag.com, sounded the alarm in an article Monday titled "Taking Islamism to the Streets," and the title of the "9/12 Project" post is simply, "OUTRAGED!" The writers at "Bare Naked Islam" are calling the event "disgusting" and "treasonous" and warn that "50,000 Muslims, terrorists, and terrorist sympathizers" will turn the Capitol into "a giant outdoor mosque." And Charisma magazine, a mainstream Pentecostal publication, quoted Christians in its account saying things like, "It is warfare time."
The most organized pushback so far is from a new organization of a nativist bent called Stop Islamization of America, or SIOA. It describes itself as a group of "scholar warriors/ideological warriors in the cause of American freedom and Constitutional government"-- and defines Islam as against those things. SIOA is using Friday's event, "Islam on Capitol Hill," as a launchpad for the group and to stage a counterprotest.
much more at link....The event sounds like yet another Tea Party protest, or perhaps an encore of last... more
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" The Count Me Out website is a source of information for those considering leaving the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). For many who no longer practise, remaining "lapsed" is not sufficient; a clean break is needed.
In 3 simple steps this site produces all the documentation you need to leave the RCC. Why might someone wish to take this action? Read some of our reasons or consult the Frequently Asked Questions for general information & answers to the most common queries we hear. "
Ok so this site provides information on how to apostasy(defect) from the catholic church primarily for someone in baptised in ireland but also has information on how to do this in other countries with forms the site generates(blank forms also available) based on information filled in in the 3 steps in the 3 sites description... namely your name,date of baptism and where you were baptised , you can also customise the cover letter to be sent with the forms.
Countmeout.ie then generates the forms and view them as pdf or HTML and allows you to save them
The forms are then printed out and sent to your bishop who may want an interview" The Count Me Out website is a source of information for those considering leaving... more
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The broad and deep legacy of Senator Ted Kennedy is informed by his staunch commitment to the separation of church and state. Kennedy consistently voted to support that principle; Kennedy understood that only a high and firm wall of separation between church and state could protect the freedom and liberty of the American people.
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Thank you TeddyThe broad and deep legacy of Senator Ted Kennedy is informed by his staunch commitment... more
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Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern, probably best known for her comparison of homosexuality to toe cancer, has ignited controversy once again with her “Oklahoma Citizen’s Proclamation for Morality,” a document that blames America’s current economic crisis on “our greater national moral crisis.”
The document (PDF) blames “abortion, pornography, same sex marriage, sex trafficking, divorce, illegitimate births, child abuse and many other forms of debauchery” for the country’s economic woes.
To rectify the problem, it suggests the following solution: “BE IT RESOLVED that we, the undersigned, humbly call upon Holy God, our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer, to have mercy on this nation, to stay His hand of judgment, and grant a national awakening of righteousness and Christian renewal as we repent of our great sin.”
Though Kern’s proclamation reads like a latter-day version of a tribal appeal to the gods for rain, it is being taken very seriously, especially among gay-rights groups.
“Instead of dealing with issues that she ought to be dealing with, it seems she’s advocating her religious views once again, which is not the proper purview of an elected official,” Scott Jones, a gay pastor, told Oklahoma City’s News 9.
Jones added that he didn’t think the timing of the document — the week after Pride Sunday and the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots — was a coincidence.
“I think it’s a response to this celebration,” Jones said.
He said the real moral issues are about poverty, hunger, the cost of health insurance and environmental degradation — “Representative Kern, a public official doesn’t address any of these moral issues.”
The proclamation implicitly blames President Barack Obama for the economic crisis — or at least sees his policies as contributing to the problem.
The document says the undersigned are “grieved that the Office of the president of these United States has refused to uphold the long held tradition of past presidents in giving recognition to our National Day of Prayer.”
The undersigned are also “deeply disturbed that the Office of the president of these United States disregards the biblical admonitions to live clean and pure lives by proclaiming an entire month to an immoral behavior” — referring to the Obama administration’s support of gay pride events this month.
News 9 states that “Kern, and a host of other lawmakers, civic and religious leaders, will gather at the State Capitol next month to sign” the proclamation.Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern, probably best known for her comparison of... more
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If you drive in Florida you may soon see license plates with the image of Jesus Christ and others with a cross if a bill passes in the state legislature.
The Senate on Friday amended a bill to add the two plates and others. The House did the same to a similar bill, but later reconsidered and the sponsor withdrew his amendment.
The cross tag was proposed last year but did not pass.
Since then, South Carolina approved an identical plate, becoming the first state to prominently feature a religious symbol on a vehicle tag.
A federal judge, though, ordered South Carolina to stop production in December until a lawsuit challenging it's constitutionality is resolved.
Follow link to full story at CBS4 in Miami FL.If you drive in Florida you may soon see license plates with the image of Jesus Christ... more
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MILWAUKEE — Nearly seven months after defying a prohibition on endorsing candidates from the pulpit, 33 churches across the country are still waiting to learn whether the Internal Revenue Service will take action against them.
The goal of "Pulpit Freedom Sunday" was to trigger a legal fight and ultimately overturn regulations that prevent places of worship from supporting or opposing candidates for office. But a conservative legal group that organized the effort says the IRS has yet to notify the churches of any investigation.
Legal experts suggest a number of possibilities: The IRS has nothing to gain from a costly and mainly symbolic battle; it has limited resources; or it could still be deciding how to respond.
On Sept. 28, participating pastors urged worshippers to vote according to conservative views on abortion and gay marriage. Several endorsed Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
Under the IRS code, places of worship can distribute voter guides, run nonpartisan voter-registration drives and hold forums on issues, among other things. But they cannot endorse a candidate, nor can their political activity be biased for or against a candidate.
Churches that violate the rule can lose their tax-exempt status.
Follow link for full story by Dinesh Ramde at USA Today.MILWAUKEE — Nearly seven months after defying a prohibition on endorsing candidates... more
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Noted global warming denier James Inhofe, who once insisted that the United States base its foreign policy on the book of Genesis, announced on the Senate floor yesterday that he will filibuster the nomination of Judge David Hamilton to the Seventh Circuit. Judge Hamilton, a highly regarded district judge whose nomination received enthusiastic support from Hamilton's homestate Republican Senator Richard Lugar, is President Obama's first nominee to the federal bench.
Follow link fro full story by Ian Millhiser at The Huffington Post.Noted global warming denier James Inhofe, who once insisted that the United States... more
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The office has essentially the same structure as President Bush's version, with faith-based offices housed in departments such as Health and Human Services and Justice. But he has created a new council that will advise the office: 25 people who have grass-roots experience working in poor neighborhoods and overseas. The council will include secular groups that do social programs, as well as religious groups. And in an attempt to avoid the image of the previous faith-based office, it will include religious conservatives and liberals.
But Obama didn't discuss the biggest controversy: Can religious groups receiving federal money for social services discriminate in their hiring practices?
This debate plagued the Bush administration's faith-based office for eight years. Bush believed that religious groups should be allowed to hire people who believe the same things they do and fire people if they don't, because their beliefs shape everything they do. This policy sparked a spate of lawsuits after, for example, gays who worked for evangelical groups were fired because they did not hold the same views on homosexuality.The office has essentially the same structure as President Bush's version, with... more
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asherp
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7 months ago
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Critics of church-state entanglements are understandably furious that Mr. Obama appears to have backed away from his campaign promise. To be sure, the president is acting within a confused regulatory context: While faith-based social-service groups that accept direct government funding are prohibited from using government dollars to proselytize to recipients of its charity, there is no such bright line when it comes to hiring.Critics of church-state entanglements are understandably furious that Mr. Obama... more
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Thomson: The recently passed constitution in Bolivia marks significant concessions by Morales. Part 2
To understand the significance of the recently passed referendum in Bolivia, Sharmini Peries speaks to Sinclair Thomson, co-author of Revolutionary Horizons. Thomson says, “one of the interesting things about this document, is that it is a compromised document. It’s the outcome of a struggle between popular social forces and the government on the one hand and right-wing opposition forces based in the lowlands of Bolivia.” He concludes that, “this document represents the interests of both sides.” He continues to say that, “this Constitution is disappointing for indigenous peoples because it doesn’t allow for the redistribution of existing large-scale agricultural estates,” but explains the reform will affect future ones. Another major change introduced with the referendum is a new limit on the presidential reelection term, largely, Thomson says, because of a propaganda campaign the right wing opposition waged against Evo Morales, portraying him as a dictator.
Sinclair Thomson is an Associate Professor at New York University’s Department of History. He is the author of We Alone Will Rule: Native Andean Politics in the Age of Insurgency (2003) and co-author of Revolutionary Horizons: Past and Present in Bolivian Politics (2007).
See Part 1 at:
http://current.com/items/89796978/historic_referendum_passes_in_bolivia.htm
See Part 3 at:
http://current.com/items/89797001/bolivia_obama_and_unasur.htm
See Part 4 at:
http://current.com/items/89797009/bolivia_and_the_united_states.htm
.Thomson: The recently passed constitution in Bolivia marks significant concessions by... more
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"BARCELONA — For a country steeped in Catholic tradition, these are alarming times.
Public schools are being told by judicial order to pull crucifixes from their walls. City buses with billboards espousing atheism have been rumbling through the streets here, prompting yowls of blasphemy from Catholic leaders.
"Probably God Doesn't Exist," bleated an ad plastered last month across Bus 14, a normally sunny mode of transport past this city's harbor. "So Stop Worrying and Enjoy Your Life."
This democracy is engaged in a bracing debate over God and state and deciding whether Catholic or secular visions should mold social policies and young minds.
A new citizenship course, introduced in secondary school in September, left politicians and church leaders tangling over what values should be formally taught. Laws passed in 2005 that essentially recognize gay marriage and ease divorce still rankle Catholic elders.
Now, with crucifixes being removed from some schools in Spain, an age-old symbol of education has toppled. Parents in the northern city of Valladolid went to court to dispute crucifixes in primary classrooms, a touch common in much of Spain. A judge ruled the crosses violated the constitution—that no single religion should dominate in Spain—and ordered them removed.""BARCELONA — For a country steeped in Catholic tradition, these are alarming times.... more
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"A New York student, backed by an Arizona-based Christian group, is taking his school to federal court.
The high schooler, who's identified in court papers as "A.Q.," says Lindenhurst School District officials have denied a Bible club recognition because of its religious nature.
The lawsuit was filed by the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Alliance Defense Fund. The group files frequent lawsuits on issues involving Christianity and schools, gay marriage and other socially conservative topics.
ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman says about four or five students were involved in Lindenhurst's Bible club. He expects court arguments seeking a preliminary injunction within weeks."
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Should schools fund "bible clubs" and other religiously affiliated extra curriculars? Who will win this legal battle?"A New York student, backed by an Arizona-based Christian group, is taking his school... more
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"US President Barack Obama on Thursday reached out to believers of all faiths as he expanded the White House office of faith-based partnerships.
Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Obama acknowledged differences among religions, but stressed the common beliefs of all faiths to care for others.
'Instead of driving us apart, our varied beliefs can bring us together to feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted; to make peace where there is strife and rebuild what has broken; to lift up those who have fallen on hard times,' he said.
'This is not only our call as people of faith, but our duty as citizens of America, and it will be the purpose of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighbourhood Partnerships that I'm announcing later today.'"
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And what of us with no 'faith' and no religion? Tying peace and altruism in with 'faith based' initiatives seems to show a disrespect and dismissal of the quickly growing number of atheists, agnostics and non-religious people in this country.
What place to "faith based" things have in our government anyway? Aren't we confusing, AGAIN, the separation of church and state?"US President Barack Obama on Thursday reached out to believers of all faiths as he... more
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"Whether Smith, in the 1820s and 1830s, was the recipient of prophetic information or not, we now have a problem that’s much closer to home to contend with, and interwoven, moreover, with our political and sociological life. LDS (The Church of Latter-day Saints) has been caught by the state of California in a big, expensive prevarication. LDS abused its tax-exempt status—not to mention the separation of church and state—to help derail gay marriage in California. And lied about it.
Regardless of whether one is in favor of gay marriage or not, whether it remained an option in California was an issue for the voters to decide on the merits as they saw it. It was not an issue for an individual church to engineer to its own specifications.
It would seem that, in fact, LDS might well have influenced the outcome, since Proposition 8 was passed with only 52 percent of the vote, a narrow margin. The 600,000 vote difference may not all be due to the influence of LDS and the minimum of $190,000 tax free dollars (and still counting) that it spent. But certainly, some is attributable to that. Indeed, gay marriage advocates “saw the church and its membership’s efforts as crucial to the passage of Proposition 8,” according to the Sacremento Bee.""Whether Smith, in the 1820s and 1830s, was the recipient of prophetic information or... more
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TODAY, the Senate will vote on the Economic Recovery (Stimulus) Package. Although the House version of this bill contained important protections against the funding of buildings used for sectarian, religious worship, all of that is now being threatened today. Senator DeMint (R-SC) will propose an amendment on the Senate floor to STRIKE this important constitutional provision. We cannot allow this! Senator DeMint's amendment is unconstitutional and would allow taxpayer money to fund construction for chapels and houses of worship.
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Stop the amendment and prevent tax dollars going for churches, chapels and other houses of worship!TODAY, the Senate will vote on the Economic Recovery (Stimulus) Package. Although the... more
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A well-known California atheist says he and 17 others, plus atheist and humanist organizations, will file suit today in D.C.’s District Court to strip all references to God and religion from President-elect Barack Obama’s January inauguration ceremony.
Michael Newdow, of Sacramento, Calif., says he wants to remove the phrase “so help me God” from the oath of office, plus ax the invocation prayer from Pastor Rick Warren, already under fire from the left for his opposition to gay marriage.
Michael Newdow, a well-known atheist, argues that any reference to God or religion violates the Constitution. AP file
According to Newdow, any reference to God or religion violates the Constitution.
“Equality is important to me,” Newdow told The Examiner. “We should show equal respects for all of our citizens, regardless of their race, gender or religion.”
The draft of the lawsuit contends: “By placing ‘so help me God’ in its oaths and sponsoring prayers to God, government is lending its power to one side of perhaps the greatest religious controversy: God’s existence or non-existence.”A well-known California atheist says he and 17 others, plus atheist and humanist... more
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For some odd reason some conservatives seem to have trouble grasping a major tenant of the foundation of our country. The separation of church and state is paramount and yet some Republicans think if the wish it hard enough it will just go away and take a few other basic rights with it.For some odd reason some conservatives seem to have trouble grasping a major tenant of... more
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Hilarious and right on without "pointing the finger." Thank you funny people for putting this together with grace and humor!Hilarious and right on without "pointing the finger." Thank you funny people for... more
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The backlash against gay rights in San Francisco turned ugly last week.
Young people from the Promised Land Fellowship Church on San Francisco's Market Street walked the few blocks up the street to the Castro district to prey for the homosexuals in San Francisco. In a self described "act of love" the christian youth asked god to forgive the gay community and "to turn back this evil".
Police reports indicate that no one was hurt. It was a loud, non-violent protest. Yet church leaders contended otherwise in a sermon posted on you tube. Homosexuals were portrayed by the church as a violent hateful mob numbering 500 that in actuality was 50. They also say that hot coffee was thrown in the face of a worshiper, yet news and police reports have yet to confirm these reports. The worshipers were escorted out of the Castro with a police escort for their protection.
Then leaders contend that the civil rights backlash across the nation from Proposition 8, (which rebuked the rights of gays and lesbians to marry) a breaking point in salvation for gays.
That somehow by fueling the flame of a slimly won anti-civil rights measure this church can sway the minds of the affected minority is laughable.
The protesters were NOT in the Castro this Friday.The backlash against gay rights in San Francisco turned ugly last week.
Young... more
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