WP: Bringing the Church to the Courtroom

[kskiska]

Christian Group Becomes Force in Major Legal Battles

Monday, July 10, 2006; A01

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- A 29-foot war memorial shaped like a cross should be allowed to remain on public land. A teacher should be able to emphasize references to God in the Declaration of Independence. Protesters should be permitted to approach women near the doors of an abortion clinic.

These courtroom fights and dozens of others pending across the country belong to the portfolio of the ambitious Alliance Defense Fund, a socially conservative legal consortium. It spends $20 million a year seeking to protect what it regards as the place of religion -- and especially Christianity -- in public life.

Considering itself the antithesis of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Scottsdale-based organization has used money and moxie to become the leading player in a movement to tug the nation to the right by challenging decades of legal precedent. By stepping into the nation's most impassioned debates about religion in the public sphere, the group aims to bring law and society into alignment with conservative Christianity.

The group successfully challenged the issuance of same-sex marriage licenses in California and Oregon, and worked on statewide ballot initiatives prohibiting such unions. Its attorneys helped the Boy Scouts win approval of a policy barring gay Scout leaders.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/09/AR2006070900903.html

[Erika]

1. If these fanatic Christian groups want it all their way

Why don't they just say non Christians don't have to pay taxes since their way is not our way. As long as non Christians pay taxes their voice should be represented.

I received propaganda from this group and sent a response back in their prepaid envelope. I thanked God for the ACLU in their efforts to keep a minority group from turning this country into a Taliban theocracy.

I haven't heard back from them.

[madrchsod]

2. they are not christians

nor do they follow the old testament teachings. they are not going to heaven for their perceived great works...

[me b zola]

3. Wow. This sums it up:

Considering itself the antithesis of the American Civil Liberties Union...

There is the Constitution & the Bill of Rights, and then there are those who oppose those documents and their principles. How anyone can speak of a group that opposes the Constitution & the Bill of Rights, and not preface their comments by calling them theocratical extremist nutjob is beyond me.

[kineneb]

4. Pharisees and scribes

...preaching on street corners loudly. All surface piety. Arn't these the people that Jesus decried in the gospels? Hummmph. Time to go up against them using their own book and some choice quotes from the NT. Fight religious ignorance with religious knowledge.

[maxrandb]

6. They're "Old Testament Christians" (OTCs)

OTC's are people that call themselves Christians, but are so slow, they haven't read past the Book of Leviticus.

Here's what Jesus had to say about these people in Matthew.

Matthew 23:-
Vs. 13 - (Jesus speaking to the Pharisees): "Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men."
Vs. 14 - "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows houses, and for pretense make long prayers."
Vs. 15 - "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass (go over) sea and land to make one proselyte (convert), and when he is made, ye make him TWO-FOLD MORE A CHILD OF HELL THAN YOURSELVES."
Vs. 33 - "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"

[Ian David]

5. "Considering itself the antithesis of the ACLU..."

It's interesting that most of the right-wing press seems to be overlooking the fact that that BOTH Alliance Defense Fund AND The ACLU are representing this little girl:

ACLU lends voice to suit

FRENCHTOWN, N.J. - The American Civil Liberties Union filed a legal brief Monday supporting an elementary school student’s right to express her religion by singing a pop Christian song at a school talent show.
Maryann and Robert Turton sued the district last year after the school struck the act from its performance list. School officials said the Turtons’ daughter, Olivia, then in second grade, could not sing the song “Awesome God” at the evening talent show because it was too religious for a school setting.
After the suit was filed in federal court in Trenton, the ACLU asked to intervene in the case.
School officials banned Olivia from singing the song, arguing its content was unsuitable for the school-run talent show held in May 2005. Concerned about crossing the line separating church and state, they said the performance might lead the audience to believe the school endorsed Olivia’s religion.
Olivia did perform, but sang a song from Annie along with a group of friends.
A hearing in the case has been tentatively set for July 3 before U.S. District Judge Stanley Chesler.
- Religion News Service

More:
http://www.ardemgaz.com/ShowStoryTemplate.asp?Path=ArDemocrat/2006/06/10&ID=Ar01802&Section=Arkansas

[Maat]

7. I am well aware of both the Alliance Defense Fund ..

and Liberty Counsel (out of Florida) - oh, and the notorious ACLJ (Sekulow's org).

The ADF has a satellite office (one of two) in Murrieta, CA. (my sweet fundie town).

Every time I hear the ADF's name uttered - I donate either to AU (Americans United for Separation of Church and State) or the ACLU.

Bastards (the ADF)!