Urge Your Congressman to Oppose the Pledge Protection Act!

[Ian David]

Urge Your Congressman to Oppose the Pledge Protection Act!

Although the House Judiciary Committee failed to advance the Pledge Protection Act (HR 2389), the House leadership is expected to bring the issue for a floor vote this week. This drastic and ill-advised bill would prevent all federal courts from hearing cases challenging or interpreting rights granted by the First Amendment as they relate to Pledge of Allegiance cases. The Pledge Protection Act would compromise long held American legal principles of due process and separation of powers by shutting the federal courthouse doors to Humanists and a large number of other Americans.

Action

Please call, e-mail, or fax your Representatives to encourage them to oppose the Pledge Protection Act, H.R. 2389, on the basis that it undermines federal courts and limits the rights of religious and nonreligious minorities.

Humanist voices must be heard at this critical juncture, so call the Capitol Switchboard toll-free at 877-762-8762 and ask to speak with your Representative’s office, or click here to send a letter.

Please keep us informed of the actions that you take. Thank you for ensuring that Humanists play an integral role in this important fight!

Background

In the past Congress has rejected attempts to withdraw controversial issues from the scope of federal courts. The AHA encourages Representatives to do so again at this important juncture as due process and separation of powers are at stake.

The Pledge Protection Act presents a serious separation of powers concern. Federal courts serve as a check on the constitutionality of actions by Congress and the Executive branch, and concerns are raised when an attempt is made to block the courts from reviewing and interpreting the constitutionality of a single act. Restricting the federal courts’ ability to protect First Amendment rights severely undermines the American judicial system.

Denial of access to the federal court system is unacceptable to religious and Humanist minorities who have a due process right to have their cases heard.

If passed, the Pledge Protection Act would set a dangerous precedent by stripping federal courts of judicial independence and paving the way to preventing federal judges from ruling on other controversial social issues from abortion and gun control to school vouchers and school prayer.

Attempts by Congress to strip the judiciary of their power to review legislation are inequitable and will open the door to more of the same. If the Pledge Protection Act passes it will fuel the fires for similar ills.

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/aha/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=4488&t=

[Kutjara]

1. How much more of this non-issue BS is Congress...

...going to waste their time on? Talk about fiddling while Rome burns.

[Ian David]

2. The Jordan River has bodies floatin'... n/t

[Ian David]

3. Abraham Lincoln did not use the phrase "Under God" at Gettysburg

The Gettysburg address by Abraham Lincoln, delivered November 19, 1863, is often given as the source of the addition to the Pledge of Allegiance that we often hear, that phrase, "under God." Wrong. The version that we have in our history texts says, in part, ". . . that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this earth."

Now take a glance at the original, in Lincoln's own handwriting:



This is from one of the first two original drafts he made. Many months later, he wrote out new copies in which "under God" does appear, and those references have of course been seized upon as "legitimate," while the originals are ignored...

More:
http://www.randi.org/jr/101003.html