Group Threatens Lawsuit Over Crosses

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- A conservative group is threatening to sue the Secret Service for religious discrimination over security guidelines that would ban Christian crosses from President Bush's inaugural parade route.

The Secret Service said Monday the guidelines were meant to prohibit large structures that could be used as weapons. Crosses were the only religious symbols on the list of banned items.

In a Dec. 17 directive to the National Park Service, the Secret Service mandated that signs and placards along the inaugural parade route down Pennsylvania Avenue be made out of cardboard, poster board or cloth. They may be no more than three feet wide or 20 feet long.

The directive also prohibited folding chairs, bicycles and other structures, and displays "such as puppets, papier mache objects, coffins, crates, crosses, theaters, cages and statues."

"The way it's written, it's an unequivocal ban on crosses," said the Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition. The group is seeking to have the prohibition overturned in federal court if the Secret Service fails to retract it.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-inaugural-crosses,0,2044844.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[Tempest]

1. Let them have their crosses

Then let's see them ban the Star of David or Islam's sword symbols.

[Benhurst]

15. And their KKK robes as well. NT

[brentspeak]

17. They wouldn't ban the Star of David

That an "other" religion emblem fundamentalist evangelists don't have a problem with. But the Islam symbol would be unacceptable to them, as would Hindu statues or Buddha statues.

I'm a Christian, but it would be fun to see the fundamentalists' reaction to giant statues of Vishnu and Ganesha being marched in the presidential entourage.

"Hey, what's the matter, conservatives -- you have something against "religion"...?"

[davidinalameda]

2. damn--no folding chairs

these people really need to get a life

let them have their crosses and let the Muslims have their symbols, etc

[tsuki]

3. Some people have entirely too much time on their hands. Get a job, or

a life, or both.

[Malva Zebrina]

4. bicycles ?

I guess that meant that those cyclers who were evident in so many protests, will not be allowed.

They must really fear something here. It is telling that this man fears so much from his own people, who he has made his enemies that all of this needs to be done.

It is obvious. He fears his own people. And he will tyrannize them to protect his own despicable, evil self.

May he never sleep a restful sleep again. He has no guilt about the murders he caused in Iraq,the lies he has told to enable him to kill at will innocent people, and he has no guilt for any of his worthless, barbaric decisions, that has caused so much hatred and killing.

He is, indeed, the most evil man to arrive on the scene, since Hitler.

He has no conscience. Conscience is for the little people, doncha know. He is the priveledged, the Kennebunkport elite above all the annoying morals or ethics of the little people who live on the other side of the bridge.

He has no one to answer to and if they should demand answers he will seek revenge upon them for even questioning his stupidity.

He is a crass, insane, psychopath.

[seemunkee]

16. Critical Mass is planning their biggest event ever

the day of the inauguration.

[Renew Deal]

5. Torah's should be banned too.

Have you ever seen those things? They're huge sometimes.

[Ediacara]

6. I don't take it as an "unequivocal ban"

Although the wording is certainly muddy. It seems like it's a ban on "weaponized" crosses, ie, wooden crosses. I don't think you'd break the rule if you made a cross out of cardboard that was less than three feet tall.

[CornField]

7. Coffins?

Does that include flag-covered boxes intended to look like returning coffins?

[Florida_Geek]

8. Bingo you won the prize today

Joan tell our lucky win what he have won....

[Hobarticus]

9. Suing the Secret Service? What is wrong with these people?

Is this the latest round of Attack on Christianity, or another Attack of Frivilous Lawsuits?

I never can tell anymore....

[NashVegas]

10. Actually I'm Wondering

If the SS might have had the idea that Bush protesters would be the ones bringing the crosses. The list also mentions theater, I assume as in 'street theater.'

[Hobarticus]

11. Aren't they supposed to put his safety above all else?

It can't be too hard to stash a weapon in a balsa-wood cross that can be easily torn apart.

Can't they see that?

These people are just kooky.

:crazy:

[VegasWolf]

12. Damn, there goes the statue of emperor bush. n/t

[gratuitous]

13. I'm not sure why they're upset

After all, now that Lil George has his man date, anything he says, thinks or does is absolute law, right? How can the Christian Defense Coalition possibly find fault with such a moral, upright man? And to go to court! My, my, how unscriptural.

[Just Me]

14. "Christian Defense" assumes it must SUE 'cause it's not in charge?

What?

WHAT?!?!?!?!

These people do NOT get that they, too, were being manipulated?

OUCH!!!

Well, all I can say is, GET OVER IT!!!

Well, I can say a bit more:

Jesus Christ never IMPOSED HIS WILL upon people, as you power-freaks do,...you're just USING Jesus to advance your own will upon others,...which makes you E-V-I-L and without any faith in Jesus Christ or God, whatsoever. It's YOUR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY!!! That attitude makes you tempted and possessed by the devil,...and you succumbed to the devil himself when you voted for your neoCONimperialist regime,...FOOLS!!!

EW!!!!

I AM SORRY TO VENT LIKE THIS BUT,...I just can't help myself. I freakin' abhor those who feel so righteous in committing the ultimate and unforgiveable sin.

Sorry,...

[FlemingsGhost]

18. Just looking for a reason to "nail" themselves up on those crosses

"See, they'll say, The unholy persecution of Christians continues."

:puke: