Religion
Related: About this forumPrayer case at the Supreme Court: Debunking some myths
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/wp/2013/11/11/prayer-case-at-the-supreme-court-debunking-some-myths/BY BARRY W. LYNN
November 11 at 6:43 am
Religious activists pray following oral arguments in the case of Town of Greece v. Galloway dealing with prayer in government, outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on November 6, 2013. The case deals with whether holding a prayer prior to the monthly public meetings in the New York town of Greece violates the Constitution by endorsing a single faith. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
Americans United for Separation of Church and State has represented two courageous women from Greece, N.Y., since 2007 when they came to us for advice about how to deal with their town board, which began all of its monthly business meetings with a Christian prayer.
Susan Galloway and Linda Stephens, respectively Jewish and atheist, found this deeply disturbing. They said it created an atmosphere in which they felt like second-class citizens based on their views on the God question.
All efforts to negotiate a reasonable settlement of this matter failed, so we filed a lawsuit in 2008. This week, that suit ended up in the chambers of the U.S. Supreme Court.
I cannot recall another case in which so many red herrings have shown up in television studios and, yes, even during Wednesdays oral argument at the court. If public venues were the sea, these false fish would have changed the clear cerulean blue to purple.
more at link
stopbush
(24,397 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)stopbush
(24,397 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)Does that include Obama?
Bill Moyers?
Gene Robinson?
William Barber?
DU members who identify as christian?
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)stopbush
(24,397 posts)because they're 1. everywhere and 2. insufferable.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)where one might expect to run into religious people.
Not buying it, stopbush.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)and if it is, what will it take for her to go away forever?
Other than that, Lynn makes good points, as usual.
That the Court would take this case says a lot in itself, and we'll see how it leans soon enough.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)Unfortunately, the Obama administration has weighed in on the town's side.
We shall see.
libodem
(19,288 posts)God, bless 'em. I like that one is Jewish and one is an atheist. I believe in the separation of church and state.
It has to be uncomfortable to confront the status quo. It is a lonely place especially when others try to shame you as not being on God's side. It's got to be a giant cross to bear. So to speak.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)I hope they win, but I'm not very optimistic right now.
demwing
(16,916 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)the Obama administration weighed in in support of the defendants.