Sarge Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 Yet they fight for and win this: LAW OF THE LAND Judge: Witches can pray at county meeting ACLU hails federal decision as victory for non-majority religions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: November 15, 2003 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2003 WorldNetDaily.com Witches, or practitioners of the Wicca religion, can pray at a county's board meeting, a federal judge ruled. Officials in Chesterfield County, Virginia, discriminated against Cyndi Simpson, a Wiccan, when they barred her from being on a list of clergy who can open the board of supervisors meetings with prayer, said U.S. District Court Judge Dennis W. Dohnal, according to the Chesterfield Progress-Index newspaper. The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Wicca is regarded as a natural religion, "grounded in the earth." Followers of its many different forms generally believe all living things, as well as stars, planets, and rocks, have a spirit. In a letter of explanation to Simpson, County Attorney Steven L. Micas said, "Chesterfield's nonsectarian invocations are traditionally made to a divinity that is consistent with the Judeo-Christian tradition," the paper reported. But the judge ruled the board violated Simpson's constitutional right of equal and free expression of her religious beliefs. Meanwhile, Dohnal argued, Christians are allowed to express their religious beliefs by delivering the "legislative prayer" allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Expressing delight with the outcome, Simpson, 47, said she believed the decision would bring credibility to witchcraft as a religion, the paper reported. The ruling was a victory for non-majority religions, said Kent Willis, executive director of the ACLU. It demonstrated why church and state should remain separate institutions, he contended. "As the framers of the Constitution understood from their own experiences, when the state uses its vast power to endorse religious activity, it will always make losers of some faiths and winners of others," said Willis, according to the Chesterfield daily. "That jeopardizes religious freedom." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codeorama Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 In my opinion, that's why prayer doesn't belong in government. I don't wish to force my religon upon others and I surely don't want someone else's religion forced upon me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Symbol Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 Agreed, plus if these are idiots that were trying to outlaw high school football games, maybe they should spend one practice in pads with my holy congrigration. Football is a religion too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 Yeah somehow prayer is the most dangerous thing to contend with Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinsfanjoe Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 The ACLU never seems to contend for anything Christian, but will be the first ones fighting for some religion with 9 followers. Go Figure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 Originally posted by skinsfanjoe The ACLU never seems to contend for anything Christian, but will be the first ones fighting for some religion with 9 followers. Go Figure. its the religions with nine followers that are most likely to be trampled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinsfanjoe Posted November 17, 2003 Share Posted November 17, 2003 So then the ACLU is only there for the little guy then? I thought they were for everyone's civil liberties? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redman Posted November 17, 2003 Share Posted November 17, 2003 Originally posted by skinsfanjoe So then the ACLU is only there for the little guy then? I thought they were for everyone's civil liberties? You thought wrong. They are radical egalitarians. They hate any form of establishment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funkyalligator Posted November 17, 2003 Share Posted November 17, 2003 The reason that they were fighting prayer at HS footbal games is because it is a state funded program and therefore should be secular. I don't see it as a big deal but apparently there was someone on the team that didn't feel it was right for this prayer to be done. The ACLU is always there fighting for individual freedom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Posted November 17, 2003 Share Posted November 17, 2003 Originally posted by codeorama In my opinion, that's why prayer doesn't belong in government. I don't wish to force my religon upon others and I surely don't want someone else's religion forced upon me. Yup. If you don't want wacky religions included in state-endorsed prayer sessions, end the state-endorsed prayer sessions. Sometimes life just isn't that complicated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redman Posted November 17, 2003 Share Posted November 17, 2003 Originally posted by Funkyalligator The ACLU is always there fighting for individual freedom. No, not always. They pick and choose which individual freedoms to support, always choosing the one that represents the establishment the least. If there's a choice, for example, they'll take the witch over the Baptist any day of the week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codeorama Posted November 17, 2003 Share Posted November 17, 2003 Originally posted by Henry Yup. If you don't want wacky religions included in state-endorsed prayer sessions, end the state-endorsed prayer sessions. Sometimes life just isn't that complicated. You know Henry, that's what I have a little trouble understanding. Why can't the right see that. When you open the door for religion in politics, you open the door for ALL religions. Same with prayer in schools, what if the teacher leading the prayer is a wiccan or a muslim or some other religion that the christian right doesn't agree with? Religion shouldn't be forced down people's throats. Religious freedom was a big part of the formation of this country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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