DOCSLIB.ORG

Judge: Texas Governor Violated FFRF's Rights

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Judge: Texas Governor Violated FFRF's Rights Warning: High school essay Join Cecile Richards Project Blitz is contest winners at FFRF's convention coming to your state announced in San Francisco PAGE 6-7 PAGES 14-18 PAGE 24 Vol. 35 No. 6 Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. August 2018 Judge: Texas governor violated FFRF’s rights FFRF has triumphed in federal Amendment rights and engaged in court against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, viewpoint discrimination as a matter who had ordered the removal of its of law when the FFRF exhibit was re- winter solstice Bill of Rights nativity moved from the Texas Capitol build- from the state Capitol in 2015. ing under the circumstances of this In a final judgement, issued June case,” Sparks ruled. 19, U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks, for FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie the Western District of Tex- Gaylor praised the ruling as a very as — Austin Division, de- strong decision for FFRF, for free clared that Abbott violated speech and for the rights of nonbe- FFRF’s free speech rights. lieving citizens. “The Constitution, FFRF, with more than with its precious Bill of Rights, FFRF Graphic 32,000 nonreligious mem- and reason have prevailed over bers, including over governmental censorship With Kavanaugh’s nomination, 1,300 Texas members, and discrimination against had placed a duly per- nonbelievers.” mitted display cele- FFRF received an initial our civil liberties are in trouble brating the winter ruling in its favor that Supreme Court nominee Judge the Duke Ellington song goes, “It don’t solstice and Bill of Abbott and the State Brett Kavanaugh will be a disaster for mean a thing if you ain’t got that swing.” Rights Day in Decem- Preservation Board had the constitutional principle of separa- Kennedy was often a disappoint- ber 2015, in response violated its free speech tion between state and church and tilt ment, but his vote really counted when to a Christian nativity rights in October 2017. the court to the religious right for more it counted. To give Kennedy his due, he at the Texas Capi- But there were two than a generation. has stood up for secularism in at least tol. The whimsical roadblocks to “If Kavanaugh is confirmed, he will four major opinions, although more display, depicting achieving the fi- unquestionably eviscerate the Establish- often voting against strict state/church Founding Fathers nal judgment. ment Clause of the First Amendment,” separation. He even authorized some and the Statue of Liber- First, Abbott ap- warn FFRF Co-Presidents Dan Barker landmark civil rights cases, including ty celebrating the “birth” of the Bill of pealed the district court’s ruling that and Annie Laurie Gaylor. “It seems un- the 1992 Weisman decision evicting com- Rights (adopted Dec. 15, 1791), had he also could be sued as an individual likely the cherished wall of separation mencement prayers and the clergy who the requisite sponsorship from a Tex- (as well as being named defendant in between state and church protecting gave them from public high schools, as legislator. his official capacity as governor). The true religious liberty could survive in- and the Obergefell verdict approving Abbott, as chair of the Texas State district court wished to hold a trial to tact. Many of our hard-won freedoms marriage equality in 2015. (Notably, Preservation Board, ordered FFRF’s decide FFRF’s personal capacity claims would be gutted.” Kennedy did not swing in our direction display taken down only three days af- against Abbott and its Establishment There’s no sugarcoating the when FFRF’s Hein decision was before ter it was erected, lambasting it as in- Clause claims. Since neither of these game-changing nature of Justice Antho- the court in 2007.) decent, mocking and contributing to side issues were necessary to securing ny Kennedy’s retirement announcement public immorality. on June 27. Kennedy was a swing vote. As See Kavanaugh on page 5 “Defendants violated FFRF’s First See Abbott on page 3 FFRF rated ‘least biased’ What’s on your plate? FFRF, CFI: No FFRF news and reports, including Free- thought Today, have been rated as “least biased” state funding by the Media Bias / Fact Check website. According to the site, which rates hun- for ministry dreds of media outlets on a sliding scale from “extreme left” to “extreme right,” FFRF was The Freedom From Religion Foun- right in the middle under “least biased.” The dation and the Center for Inquiry site says that that rating means “these sources are warning the North Carolina Leg- have minimal bias and use very few loaded islature against religious financial words (wording that attempts to influence boondoggling. an audience by using appeal to emotion or The two secular groups were con- stereotypes). The reporting is factual and tacted by several concerned state tax- usually sourced. These are the most credible payers about a proposal to funnel a media sources.” quarter of a million in tax dollars to Under “factual reporting,” FFRF was given a religious ministry, Cross Trail Out- the rating of “high.” fitters. The state’s currently proposed The Media Bias site also wrote in its “Notes” budget for 2019 seeks to give $250,000 section about FFRF: “In review, their news re- from the state Health and Human porting uses minimal loaded words and typi- Services Department to the Christian cally links to low-biased sources. From a polit- FFRF Member Jeff Prebeg shows off his “ATHE1ST” license plate ministry “for purposes of promoting ical perspective, the mission is to simply keep that he was able to get from the state of Pennsylvania after FFRF wellness and physical activity for youth church and state separate. Overall, we rate the stepped in to help. Turn to page 3 to read Prebeg’s story of the seven to 20 years of age.” Freedom From Religion Foundation as least license plate and his activism. biased and high for factual reporting.” See Funding on page 3 Page 2 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | August 2018 ‘Kindness is everything’ Trucker goes from Jew to Buddhist to None Name: Jonnie Benzimra. Dharamsala, India, where the exiled Where I live: Mentor, Ohio. government of Tibet is based. The Where and when I was born: Rich- evangelical Christians would come and mond, Surrey, England. Richmond has thump their bibles on the Dalai Lama’s been swallowed up by Greater London podium proselytizing. Buddhists had to and is now known as Richmond upon just let it happen and not intervene or Thames. I was born in 1954, which use force. Very upsetting. We Buddhists makes me soon to be 64, but I am NOT were accused of being godless (which going to break out into the Beatles song. we were) and not having a real religion Family: Two sisters in Britain and a at all (which I was proud of). I kinda brother in Toronto. Both my folks are believed in reincarnation, but only to deceased. My father was a staunch so- a point. It was the Mahayana Buddhist cialist (a bit of a dirty word here) and teachings of the Hell Realms that finally my mother was a very popular Maltese sent me running, pulling out my hair. Jewish housewife — fiery Mediterra- Not from fear of those hellish realms, nean blood. Here, I have an English but their ridiculous invention to control wife who has two sons from a previous the masses. We do good in this world be- marriage. We both originally married cause it’s the right way to conduct our- Americans and had been divorced for selves. Kindness is everything. Not the about six years each. We met each other fear of going to hell or heaven or sitting through friends who said, “Oh, I know next to God or getting a favorable re- an English girl down the road.” We have birth when we die. “Do good for good- been together 15 years, married for 10 Jonnie Benzimra and his wife Denise Brown. ness’ sake,” my father used to quote. of them. I have removed the word “step” whole food and health food shop in truck stop. It’s amazing how religious I went back to India in 2007 with my from my sons’ introduction. Wales, selling brown rice, rolled oats, these truck drivers are. I am a little quiet present wife. On our last day, we went Education: I went to a Jewish second- buckwheat, Mung beans and honeys about my Noneness, fearing a little ret- around the Delhi Railway Station and its ary school that I had to travel all the way from around the world. A huge young ribution. (I will always remember being lands with a street child who spoke En- across London to attend. Before then I community had emigrated from all shocked during the burning of Beatles glish, who showed us how he used to live was the only Jew in a local primary school points Britain to South Wales for cheap- records after John Lennon said the Beat- and how other kids were copping along and had to stand outside class while they er housing and land. I was now 19 and les were more popular than Jesus.) with the organization to help those street taught Church of gave it all up to go I wish we had a recognizable symbol kids. It was a wonderful chance to see and England stuff. I MEET A MEMBER overland to India for Nones. I would hang it up front of understand and help where we could. A remember being and Kathmandu, my truck and leave it to others to de- lady joined our group at the last minute bored, but I didn’t Nepal, in 1973.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Christian Nationalist Takeover of the Federal Judiciary a New Freedom from Religion Founda- Interpretation of the Constitution and Its Tion Report Issued on Dec
    Photoshop # White Will Barrett Winners of Ed Asner: It’s join the grievance grad student essay not easy to conservatives? contest announced challenge religion PAGE 11 PAGES 14-19 PAGE 28 Vol. 38 No. 1 Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. January / February 2021 FFRF special report Christian Nationalist takeover of the federal judiciary A new Freedom From Religion Founda- interpretation of the Constitution and its tion report issued on Dec. 15 exposes the impact on our rights, FFRF underscores in Christian Nationalist takeover of the federal its report. The judges on the federal bench courts and the damage this is causing to the are appointed for life, which may be up to separation of state and church. four or five decades. Their influence often Over the past four years, President lasts even longer. Trump has stacked the federal courts with To make matters worse, political calcula- ultraconservative judges, thanks to the tions have dictated Trump’s judicial appoin- blocking of President Obama’s judicial tees. In 2016, 81 percent of white evangeli- appointments and the holding open of va- cal Christians voted for him, and in return cant seats by Senate Majority Leader Mitch they’ve gotten a federal judiciary willing to McConnell. Trump has made three Su- codify religious privilege while stripping the preme Court appointments, 53 appellate rights of minorities. That’s why the federal court appointments and 170 district court judges that have been appointed by Trump appointments, drastically outpacing his are religious ideologues who are dramati- predecessors. In fact, the outgoing presi- cally redefining religious liberty and under- dent vowed to continue nominating judg- mining core, cherished constitutional prin- es through the end of the lame-duck 116th ciples that keep religion out of government.
    [Show full text]
  • Transcript Prepared by Clerk of the Legislature Transcribers Office Education Committee January 22, 2019
    Transcript Prepared by Clerk of the Legislature Transcribers Office Education Committee January 22, 2019 GROENE: -- the Education Committee public hearing. My name is Mike Groene, of course. I'm the Chairman of the Education Committee, Legislative District 42. The committee will take up the bills in the posted agenda. Today there will be four bills. Our hearing today is your public part of the legislative process. This is your opportunity to express your position on the, on the proposed legislation before us today. First, please turn off your cell phones and other electronic devices, at least the ringers. Move-- and when you want to testify, move to the front of the-- leave the-- we'd like to see the front row left partially empty and testifiers can, can assemble there and a, and then testify in an orderly manner, manner. The order of testimony is introducer, proponent, opponent, neutral, and closing remarks by the introducer. If you will be testifying, please complete the green test-- testifier sheet in the back-- both corners of the back room and hand to the committee page when you come up to testify. The pages today are Erika Llano and Maddy Brown. Hand your green sheet to them. They should come forward and take it from you when you come forward. If you have written material that you would like distributed to the committee-- this is for the testifiers-- please hand them to the page to be distributed. If you are not going to publicly testify or need to leave early, you can turn in written testimony with a completed green testifier sheet.
    [Show full text]
  • Playing the Long Game How the Christian Right Built Capacity to Undo Roe State by State
    PLAYING THE LONG GAME HOW THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT BUILT CAPACITY TO UNDO ROE STATE BY STATE Political Research Associates June 2019 Political Research Associates is a social justice think tank devoted to supporting movements that are building a more just and inclusive democratic society. We expose movements, institutions, and ideologies that undermine human rights. Copyright © 2019 Political Research Associates ISBN-13: 978-0-915987-33-7 Playing the Long Game: How the Christian Right Built Capacity to Undo Roe State by State, Political Research Associates, June 2019. www.politicalresearch.org PLAYING THE LONG GAME: How the Christian Right Built Capacity to Undo Roe State by State Political Research Associates CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 INTRODUCTION 14 HOW THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT BUILT POWER 18 History of Christian Right Institutions 20 Overview of Political Impact of the Christian Right 21 DETAILS ON GOP REDISTRICTING EFFORTS 22 Another Dimension of Gerrymandering 22 GOP Gerrymandering at its Best 23 The Christian Right is an Adaptable and Dynamic Movement 28 Unity Among Evangelicals and Catholics 28 Tactical Shifts in the Christian Right’s Racial Politics 29 Funding of Christian Right 30 HOW THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT ADVANCED ITS ANTI-ABORTION AGENDA 32 Build Enduring Infrastructure at the State and National Levels 34 The Christian Right Seeks Alignment 41 Aligning with Militant Right-Wing Populism 42 States of Siege: Impact of State Takeover on Abortion Access 42 Impact on Abortion Providers and Patients 48 CONCLUSION 50 GLOSSARY 53 ENDNOTES 54 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT and advocates for reproductive rights, health, and justice have been caught off guard by a movement that has adapted to a changing political, social, and cultural landscape.
    [Show full text]
  • Christian Americanism and Texas Politics Since 2008
    CHRISTIAN AMERICANISM AND TEXAS POLITICS SINCE 2008 David R. Brockman, Ph.D. Nonresident Scholar, Religion and Public Policy March 2020 Acknowledgments I am grateful to William C. Martin for encouraging me to pursue the project, and to Ambassador Edward P. Djerejian for approving it. I am also grateful to Bill Martin, Mark Chancey, and Allen Matusow for their helpful comments and suggestions, which improved the report considerably, as did Kristin Hoffmeister’s diligent and meticulous editorial work. Finally, I wish to thank my spouse Eleanor Forfang-Brockman, for her patience, support, and companionship. The responsibility for any shortcomings rests with me alone. © 2020 by Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy This material may be quoted or reproduced without prior permission, provided appropriate credit is given to the author and Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Wherever feasible, papers are reviewed by outside experts before they are released. However, the research and views expressed in this paper are those of the individual researcher(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the Baker Institute. David R. Brockman, Ph.D. “Christian Americanism and Texas Politics Since 2008” https://doi.org/10.25613/0ssp-2x65 Christian Americanism and Texas Politics Since 2008 Section 1: Mapping the Territory As the United States has grown more ethnically and religiously diverse in recent decades, calls for the nation to return to its allegedly Christian essence have become increasingly common, and increasingly vociferous, among conservatives. “In homes and schools across the land, it’s time for Christians to take a stand. This is not a nation established on the principles of Buddha or Hinduism.
    [Show full text]
  • Religious Freedom Measures Impacting Prayer and Faith in America | 2018-19 Version |
    Report and Analysis on Religious Freedom Measures Impacting Prayer and Faith in America | 2018-19 Version | Legislation Proclamations Talking Points Notes Fact Sheets Copyright © 2018 CPCF | All rights reserved. Report and Analysis on Religious Freedom Measures Impacting Prayer and Faith in America 2 Table of Contents Forward ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Overview of Religious Liberty Measures for States ........................................................................ 5 Category #1: Legislation Regarding Our Country's Religious Heritage .................................................... 5 Category #2: Resolutions and Proclamations Recognizing the Importance of Religious History and Freedom .................................................................................................................................................... 6 Category #3: Religious Liberty Protection Legislation.............................................................................. 6 Category #4: Talking Points to Counter Anti-Religious Freedom Legislation .......................................... 7 Prime Focus Recommendations ..................................................................................................... 8 Prime Focus #1: National Motto License Plates ....................................................................................... 8 Prime Focus #2: Public Policy Resolution Favoring Sexual Intercourse
    [Show full text]
  • SECULAR STATES a Review of State Law and Policy Affecting the Separation of Religion and Government
    2018 STATE OF THE SECULAR STATES A Review of State Law and Policy Affecting the Separation of Religion and Government TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 This Report 2 Our Organization 2 Acknowledgements KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN STATE LAW & POLICY IN 2018 3 Focus on Religion in Schools 3 Religious Exceptions in Foster Care and Adoption 3 Protecting Youth from Religion-Based Harm 4 Project Blitz: A Christian Nationalist State Legislative Campaign OUTLOOK FOR 2019 5 Anti-Abortion Bills 5 Religious Display Bills 5 Religious Exceptions Bills 6 Youth Protection Bills ISSUE MAPS 7 Religious Freedom Restoration Acts 9 Religious Exceptions to Enforcement 11 Constitutional No Aid Clauses 13 Mandatory Religious Displays 15 Exceptions to Child Protections for Faith Healing 17 Religious Refusals in Health Care ISSUE ANALYSIS & CATEGORIZATION 19 State Constitutional Protections 20 Schools & Youth 21 Child Marriage in the United States 23 Religious Refusals of Health Care 23 Health Care & Wellness 24 Special Privileges for Religion 26 Acknowledging Context STATE SCORECARDS 27 Summary of State Laws and Policies Assessed 29-130 State Scorecards, Alphabetically INTRODUCTION THIS REPORT In the past several years there has been an increas- religious equality in each state, to better understand ing interest in religious equality and awareness those provisions already in the law which compro- of efforts to erode the separation of religion and mise the separation of religion and government, and government, and much of that attention has been to set goals for advocacy to protect religious liberty focused at the federal level. This is unsurprising giv- for everyone. We hope this report raises awareness en the many ways that the federal government can about how state law impacts religious equality and impact the religious liberty and the basic rights of helps foster a broader understanding of the types of people across the country, including in areas such state laws and policies which should concern athe- as access to health care and civil rights protections.
    [Show full text]
  • The Pennsylvania State University
    The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School College of Education UNDERSTANDING THE PROMOTION OF BIBLE LITERACY CLASSES IN U.S. PUBLIC SCHOOLS A Thesis in Educational Theory and Policy by Thomas W. Norris Jr. © 2019 Thomas W. Norris Jr. Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts May 2019 ii The thesis of Thomas W. Norris Jr. was reviewed and approved* by the following: Mindy L. Kornhaber Associate Professor of Education Thesis Advisor David M. Post Professor of Education Kevin Kinser Professor of Education Head of the Department of Education Policy Studies *Signatures are on file in the Graduate School iii ABSTRACT Efforts to promote religion in the American public education system have been going on since the initial founding the American schooling system. However, as a result of the Bible wars of the 1800’s and the Supreme Court rulings in Everson v. Board of Education of the Township of Ewing (1947), Engel v. Vitale (1962), and in School District of Abington Township, Pennsylvania v. Schempp (1963), confusion persists around what can and cannot be done with regard to the Bible in the public schools. Thus, the topic of religion in schools has been met with much controversy. Recently, efforts to promote an elective course studying the history and literature of the Old and New Testaments have been met with both strong support and fierce opposition. The current study seeks to explore the promotion of Bible literacy classes as proposed in the Bible Literacy Act of the Project Blitz initiative. Interviews were conducted with major stakeholders of the Project Blitz initiative, as well as members of watchdog organizations, academia, and state legislatures.
    [Show full text]
  • Plan Now for “Project Blitz” 2007 Block Captains Unite!
    The Official Newsletter of the Southampton Neighborhood Association • March 2007 Plan Now for “Project Blitz” 2007 Next Southampton Neighborhood Association Meetings Southampton Cleanup and Beautification Date Set for Saturday, April 21 Date: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 Wednesday, May 9, 2007 If you aren’t sure how this day applies to your life, read on. Operation Brightside’s Project Blitz 2007, in conjunction with the city’s expanded refuse service, is the perfect opportunity to make our neighborhood more Time: 7:00 p.m. visually pleasing. Southampton didn’t become a great community of neighbors without individuals thinking Refreshments will be served beyond themselves. Every time we trim the lawn, plant trees and flowers, or spruce up the alleys, we’re doing it Location: Southampton Presbyterian Church for every eye that passes by. This is the day your neighbors will be out planting or landscaping private property Lower level gymnasium or common areas, and cleaning out their basement, garage or alley. 4716 Macklind Avenue (at Nottingham) One of the best deals, is that the city will provide continuous collection of refuse and yard waste. Bulk pickup SNA Officers, Board Members will also be steady throughout the day. Large appliances, tires, car batteries and motor oil will be collected and recycled. As always, items that do not fit or belong in a dumpster must be placed behind your property and never & City Officials leaning against any dumpster. For the complete plan watch your mail or visit stlouis.missouri.org/brightside. Chad Stockel, President 752-9972 • [email protected] Southampton’s Landscape Coordinator and Brightside liason, Lisa Tenhouse, adds her own support: “I encourage residents to clean up their property and alley on Saturday, April 21.
    [Show full text]
  • The Significance of the Secularization of the Bladensburg Cross
    Roger Williams University Law Review Volume 26 Issue 2 Vol. 26: No. 2 (Spring 2021) Article 4 Symposium: Is This a Christian Nation? Spring 2021 Who Conquers with This Sign? The Significance of The Secularization of The Bladensburg Cross Mary Anne Case University of Chicago Law School Follow this and additional works at: https://docs.rwu.edu/rwu_LR Part of the First Amendment Commons, and the Religion Law Commons Recommended Citation Case, Mary Anne (2021) "Who Conquers with This Sign? The Significance of The Secularization of The Bladensburg Cross," Roger Williams University Law Review: Vol. 26 : Iss. 2 , Article 4. Available at: https://docs.rwu.edu/rwu_LR/vol26/iss2/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Law at DOCS@RWU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Roger Williams University Law Review by an authorized editor of DOCS@RWU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Who Conquers with This Sign? The Significance of The Secularization of The Bladensburg Cross Mary Anne Case* INTRODUCTION In this Symposium, Roger Williams University School of Law has invited a number of scholars of law and religion, including me, to address, in the context of the United States Constitution’s Establishment Clause, the question “Is this a Christian nation?” It seems to me particularly appropriate to approach the question centering the perspective of Roger Williams himself. The metaphor * Arnold I. Shure Professor of Law, University of Chicago Law School. I am grateful to organizers and participants at the
    [Show full text]
  • Project Blitz Playbook 2017
    Report and Analysis on Religious Freedom Measures Impacting Prayer and Faith in America (2017 Version) Legislation Proclamations Talking Points Notes Fact Sheets Copyright © 2017 CPCF. All rights reserved. Report and Analysis on Religious Freedom Measures Impacting Prayer and Faith in America 2 Table of Contents Forward ................................................................................................................................ 3 Overview of Religious Liberty Measures for States ................................................................. 4 Category #1: Legislation Regarding Our Country's Religious Heritage ..................................................... 4 Category #2: Resolutions and Proclamations Recognizing the Importance of Religious History and Freedom .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Category #3: Religious Liberty Protection Legislation .............................................................................. 6 Stylistic Notes ........................................................................................................................ 7 Final Thoughts ....................................................................................................................... 8 Category #1 - Legislation Regarding Our Country’s Religious Heritage..................................... 9 National Motto Display Act ....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Legal Ramifications of Christian Nationalism
    Roger Williams University Law Review Volume 26 Issue 2 Vol. 26: No. 2 (Spring 2021) Article 6 Symposium: Is This a Christian Nation? Spring 2021 The Legal Ramifications of Christian Nationalism Steven K. Green Willamette University Follow this and additional works at: https://docs.rwu.edu/rwu_LR Part of the First Amendment Commons, and the Religion Law Commons Recommended Citation Green, Steven K. (2021) "The Legal Ramifications of Christian Nationalism," Roger Williams University Law Review: Vol. 26 : Iss. 2 , Article 6. Available at: https://docs.rwu.edu/rwu_LR/vol26/iss2/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Law at DOCS@RWU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Roger Williams University Law Review by an authorized editor of DOCS@RWU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Legal Ramifications of Christian Nationalism Steven K. Green* INTRODUCTION One of the more resilient debates about American constitutional history is the one over the nation’s purported religious founding. As predictable as the Chicago Cubs’ collapse every summer, legal and religious conservatives periodically raise claims about America’s Christian heritage in their efforts to gain the moral and legal high ground in the ongoing culture wars. One recent example of this is found in the June 24, 2018, Sunday sermon of Reverend Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas.1 In that sermon, titled “America is a Christian Nation,” Reverend Jeffress asserted that the nation’s Founders were predominately evangelical Christians and that they intended to instill Christian values in the nation’s governing documents.2 America was founded as a Christian nation, Jeffress insisted, and the nation’s law and institutions needed to rediscover and reaffirm this basis.3 While Reverend Jeffress’s claims could be passed off as the ramblings of a fundamentalist preacher, Dallas First Baptist is * Steven K.
    [Show full text]
  • FFRF Sues Over Forced Prayers in Puerto Rico the Freedom from Religion Foun- Monday During the School Day
    We’re less The challenge White biblical religious, but of leaving imagery is also better off Jehovah’s Witnesses still with us PAGE 3 PAGES 12-13 PAGE 15 Vol. 37 No. 3 Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. April 2020 FFRF sues over forced prayers in Puerto Rico The Freedom From Religion Foun- Monday during the school day. cannot ensure that the prayer practice has people,” FFRF points out. dation filed a federal lawsuit on Feb. 27 FFRF is representing two of these chil- stopped and that teachers at the school The family brings this action under against Puerto Rico’s education secretary dren and their mother at the U.S. District have been properly trained on the separa- pseudonyms to protect the mother and and a principal on behalf of a family sub- Court for the District of Puerto Rico along tion of church and state. But based on the her two minor children from social ostra- jected to forced prayers and bullying in a with Humanistas Seculares De Puerto mediation thus far, FFRF is optimistic that cism, retaliation and even physical harm. public primary school. Rico, a leading Puerto Rican secular hu- the lawsuit will end quickly and favorably. Eligio Hernandez Perez is being sued in Since September 2019, in direct con- manist organization that the mother be- As far back as 1962, the U.S. Supreme his official capacity as the secretary of the tradiction of well-established constitu- longs to. Court has held that “the constitutional Department of Education. Luz Ramos tional law, officials at the Luis M.
    [Show full text]