Court bars suit against faith-based plan

[babsbunny]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070625/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_faith_based

By PETE YOST, Associated Press Writer
12 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled Monday that ordinary taxpayers cannot challenge a White House initiative that helps religious charities get a share of federal money.


The 5-4 decision blocks a lawsuit by a group of atheists and agnostics against eight Bush administration officials including the head of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

The taxpayers' group, the Freedom From Religion Foundation Inc., objected to government conferences in which administration officials encourage religious charities to apply for federal grants.

[KansDem]

1. What was their reasoning...if any?

What was the reasoning given by the Supremes? I read the article but it is still unclear to me. I can't fathom a government where the average citizen can't hold the president's pet projects accountable through the court system.

[ixion]

5. that because the initiative is funded from the executive branch

that it doesn't come under tax-payer oversight.

Mere tax payers, it seems, have no right to challenge the mighty Unitary Executive Master of the Universe. :puke:

[BlueJazz]

2. Amazing...Not only do these "Sky Fairy" folks not pay taxes but now they want....

...to get on the dole.

I bet some of their members talk about those "Damn Welfare Queens"

[wellst0nev0ter]

3. Is There ANY First Amendment Rule That The Alito Court Likes?

First they ruled against a student who made a normally constitutional act off school grounds and not during school hours, now they bar average citizens from petitioning their government to NOT support religious organizations with their tax monies? How can we disbar Supreme court justices?

[ixion]

6. sure... they ruled that the pro-lifers can run their bogus ads right up to the election

he was sure happy to stand up for free speech there. :eyes: :grr: :puke:

[Milo_Bloom]

4. This is actually a tough one

The rule, as stated in the article, "a 1968 Supreme Court ruling that enabled taxpayers to challenge government programs that promote religion."

So the question is does encouraging a religious CHARITY to apply for federal money "PROMOTE RELIGION"?

I am about as anti-religion as they get, but I have a hard time saying that a religious charity shouldn't have access to the same money as other charities. I believe you would have to wait until the program is running and then IF the money is going to charities that PROMOTE RELIGION, you challenge it on that basis, instead of potential hypotheticals that may or may not occur.

I personally don't ever give money to a religious charity (which often makes Charitable donations difficult since so many of them spawn from religious groups); however, I understand that my tax dollars go to a ton of things I would never support, but I don't have the right to complain about each one.

As long as these religious charities promote the charity and not the religion, I just don't see a big issue here.