'Anti-ACLU' Fights for Religion in Public Life

[truthpusher]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,165644,00.html

'Anti-ACLU' Fights for Religion in Public Life
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Saturday, August 13, 2005
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LOS ANGELES —

(snip)

Now the ACLU is facing a challenge from groups such as the Alliance Defense Fund (search), one of several Christian law firms formed in the 1990s.

From its base in Phoenix, the ADF says its goal is to defend religious liberty, the sanctity of human life and the traditional family against any person or group who attacks those principles.

(snip)

Now it's working on what it calls its "Christmas project," an effort to defend school districts around the nation against lawsuits to ban Christmas trees and other religious displays during the holidays.

Former ACLU board member Susan Estrich (search), a FOX News contributor, said groups such as the ADF are unnecessary because they represent a majority group, which already has all the influence it needs.

"So long as Christians are voting and electing the majority, and the majority of our leaders are Christian and the majority of our judges are Christian, I'm not sure who the Christians are ultimately complaining about," Estrich said.

(snip)

complete story: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,165644,00.html

[kestrel91316]

1. Ok, ADF, if you want to defend religious liberty, let's see

just where you stand the first time some Satanist wants to have HIS religious rights protected. How would you handle THAT??

I'm waiting for your answer.


Still waiting for an answer.


Hmmm - as I suspected.

[DBoon]

2. When an elemetary school teacher wants to post atheist articles

Will you defend this person

on edit: you meaning the ADF

[kestrel91316]

3. I think you should ask this question of the ADF. I am not the legal

organization in question here. Read the post.

[DBoon]

5. It's late. I posted poorly

corrected it on edit.

[kestrel91316]

8. I think we both know the answer to that question, my friend.

The only religion they will ever defend is the "correct" one, or in their view the only "true" religion: fundamentalist Christianity.

They don't consider any other of the world's religions to actually BE religions, and I am sure also that they do not really consider the practitioners of those other religions to be true humans. We are the "mud people" to them.

[arwalden]

18. They Only Care About CHRISTIANS And Promoting HETEROSEXUAL Families...

it makes me want to puke.

[Lindacooks]

4. You know the ACLU was formed to defend the Constitution

of the United States. So they're against the Constitution, huh? Doesn't surprise me a bit.

[VegasWolf]

6. These clowns wouldn't lift a finger to help a muslim. Religion =

christianity to these fools.

[Voltaire99]

7. The B.S.L.U.

Religious totalitarians are never satisfied. Their desires run counter to the very pluralism that permits their zealotry.

That's why religious tolerance is not automatically a virtue. One can bend over too far for the god-struck, as indeed do our media and too many well-meaning liberals.

[DanCa]

9. Jesus doesn't always have to shout sometimes he whispers

Imagine what a wonderful place the world would be if people where more concerned with living the gospel than proclaiming the faith.

[progressivebydesign]

10. Keep yer damn religion out of my face!!!

I am beyond sick of these people.. practice whatever religion you like, just keep it out of my fucking life. I don't pay taxes so that charlatains like Pat Robertson can get rich without paying any. thank you.

[wli]

11. any chance of suing them for violation of 1st amendment rights? n/t

[Rich Hunt]

12. what's next?

Forcing people to go to church??

[cornermouse]

13. Well, you know if you want a job or a loan.........

[cornermouse]

14. I think its time to install the American Indian's religious theories

in the science classroom along with Darwin and Intelligent Design. After all, what's good for the goose is also good for the gander...

[DanCa]

15. Actually I am all for teaching that but not in a science class ..........

note I know your joking.

[brentspeak]

16. Is God deaf, hard-of-hearing?

If not, then why do some feel they must use a bullhorn when praying to him?

[CatholicEdHead]

17. That "taking Christmas away" talking point

is popping up in the middle of summer? That must be the seasonal talking point that will be recycled every November and December for the next few years.

So much for Holiday Spirit.

[Ian David]

19. Matthew 6:6-8 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet...

Matthew 6:6
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:7
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen : for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeConcordance and Hebrew/Greek LexiconList Audio, Study Tools, Commentaries

Matthew 6:8
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

More:
http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Mat/Mat006.html

References

Bible, The; God Page 138; Random House; New York, 1978.

[meganmonkey]

20. Why don't they go live somewhere like Iran for a while

and tell me how lovely a religious state can be? Especially as someone not in the religious majority of that nation?

[onager]

21. Our "ally" Saudi Arabia would be a good choice, too.

I lived there for a little over 2 years. It's a Muslim mirror image of what the Fundies want here. Xian proselytizers just aren't allowed in that country--no exceptions. And since the supreme law of the land is sharia, based on the Koran, the opportunity for legal appeal is...uh...somewhat limited.

Technically, trying to convert people from Islam is a capital crime in Saudi Arabia. It ranks just under murder in the legal code, and carries the death penalty. In reality, the Saudis just throw proselytizers in jail and process their cases on a very leisurely basis. Eventually they get deported.

The matowah, or Religious Police, roam the streets sniffing out un-Islamic behavior. They will harass foreigners--I saw that quite often--but generally not to the point of having them arrested. The official name of the Religious Police is The Committee For The Promotion Of Virtue And The Prevention Of Vice. Jerry Falwell would love it.

OTOH, I just came back from a month working in Alexandria, Egypt, and spent another month earlier this year in Cairo. The attitude is completely different. None of that stench of religious bullshit hanging over the entire country.

Egypt is 94% Muslim with a few Coptic Xians and Catholics. And even a few Jews are still there. (The oldest synagogue in Egypt is located about a stone's throw from the oldest mosque in the country.)

As near as I could tell, Muslims go to mosque on Friday, Xians go to church on Sunday, and people who don't want to go to church at all don't.

[stepnw1f]

22. Right Wing Zealotry Wants to Oppress America

See their tactics.... pretty anti-American to me.

[hayu_lol]

23. Xmas Trees? Why are they worried about Xmas Trees?

THEY stole the Xmas Tree from the Pagans...just another theft by the right wing wackos.