Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases
In Sumahit v. Parker, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 78973 (ED CA, Sept. 3, 2009), a California federal magistrate judge recommended rejection of a prisoner's free exercise claim, finding that he had not described how restrictions on his access to Native American religious services burdened his ability to practice his religion.
In Johnson v. Sisto, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 78943 (ED CA, Sept. 2, 2009), a Rastafarian prisoner complained that he was denied access to a vegan diet as required by his Rastafarian faith. A California federal magistrate judge recommended that most of his claims be dismissed because the defendants he sued lacked authority to provide him with a religious diet unless he obtained a religious diet card through the chaplain. However the magistrate recommended that plaintiff be permitted to proceed on his claim that on one occasion, when he was entitled to it, he was denied a religious diet meal.
In Jackson v. Verdini, (MA App. Ct., Aug. 21, 2009), a Massachusetts state appeals court affirmed (with a minor modification) a lower court's holding that the Department of Corrections provide an additional Imam to perform weekly Jum'ah services and that female officers be prohibited from touching the genital or anal areas of any male Muslim inmates except in emergency situations.
In Sandeford v. Plummer, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 79571 (ND CA, Sept. 1, 2009), a California federal district court allowed plaintiff to move ahead with free exercise and equal protection challenges. Plaintiff alleged that jail staff failed to grant his request for an "Islamic Diet," access to Islamic religious services, and permission to wear a Kufi cap.
In Kaiser v. Shipman, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 79413 (ND FL, Aug. 4, 2009), a Florida federal magistrate judge recommended dismissal of Free Exercise and RLUIPA claims by an inmate who was not permitted to keep in his personal possession tarot cars, an alter cloth and runes to practice his faith,which prison authorities classified as Wiccan.
In Price v. Caruso, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 79199 (ED MI, July 16, 2009), a Michigan federal magistrate judge recommended that a Jewish prisoner's monetary damage claim under RLUIPA be dismissed on sovereign immunity grounds, even though factual issues remained as to whether RLUIPA was violated by a ban on Jewish prisoners traveling between prison complexes to hold Sabbath services (in order to obtain 10 persons for a minyan).
In Burns v. Smith, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 79525 (WD LA, July 16, 2009), a Louisiana federal magistrate judge refused to dismiss free exercise and RLUIPA claims by a pre-trial detainee challenging a detention center's apparent policy of withholding church services to detainees or inmates placed in lockdown for medical reasons.
In Muhammad v. McNeil, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 79409 (ND FL, July 6, 2009), a Florida federal magistrate judge recommended dismissal of two claims brought by a Muslim prisoner. Plaintiff sought a strict Halal diet that also took account of his medical needs for a meat-based low-residue diet. He also sought, for religious reasons, access to a dentist (at his family's expense) to remove 16 gold crowns installed in his youth which he says now violate his religious beliefs.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Christian Groups Are Proselytizing Dearborn, Michigan's Muslims
Louisiana Governor's State-Paid Trips To Churches Raise Controversy
ABP reports that a Jindal spokesperson reacted to Gaddy's letter by saying : [The Interfaith Alliance] opposes putting crosses up in honor of fallen policemen, has attacked the National Day of Prayer and advocates for same-sex marriage, so it's not surprising that they are attacking the governor for accepting invitations to speak at Louisiana churches." [Thanks to Blog from the Capital for the lead.]
Wisconsin County Seeks Compromise To Avoid Liability Over Monument
White House Visitor Logs Will Now Be Routinely Released; Lawsuits Settled
3rd Circuit Tells BIA: Reconsider Whether Iran May Torture Christian Convert
Friday, September 04, 2009
Italian Prime Minister In Historic Feud With The Vatican
The Berlusconi paper called Catholic editor, Dino Boffo, a homosexual and claimed he was being sued by the wife of a man he was in a relationship with. Boffo was supported by a public statement from the Vatican, but on Thursday, after issuing a detailed rebuttal and explanation of the allegations, Boffo resigned. He charged his opponents with ''media butchery.'' Brisbane's Times says: "The rift between Mr Berlusconi's administration and the Vatican is now being read as the most serious battle between church and state since World War II."
Iowa School District Unveils Revised Religious Liberty Draft Policy
The Spencer Daily Reporter covers these developments.Teachers shall prepare and teach lessons throughout the year and throughout the curriculum that:
- Approach religion as academic, not devotional
- Strive for student awareness of religions, not acceptance of religions
- Study about religion, but do not practice religion in the classroom
- Expose students to diversity of religious views, not impose any particular view
- Educate about a variety of religions, not promote or denigrate religion
- Inform students about various beliefs, not conform students to any particular belief
- Demonstrate the impact of economic, social, political and cultural effects of religion throughout history
- Are age appropriate
Obama Issues Proclamation On Remembrance of 9-11 Victims
Controversy Persists Over Virginia Gubernatorial Candidate's 20-Year Old Thesis
McDonnell described working women as "detrimental" to the traditional family. He criticized a U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing contraception for unmarried couples and decried the "purging" of religion from schools. He advocated character education programs in public schools to teach "traditional Judeo-Christian values," and he criticized federal tax credits for child care expenditures because they encouraged women to enter the workforce.In this week's Atlantic, Wendy Kaminer examines whether or not the thesis is relevant to today's campaign given McDonnell's statements that some of his views expressed in the thesis have changed. Kaminer says she still has questions. For example, she writes: "Reading McDonnell's thesis, which relies on slogans, political talking points, and declarations of faith more than argument, I also wonder if he's developed his capacity for nuanced, rational thought." [Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.]
Opinion Issued In Case Ordering Parochial School Student Into Public School Band
Jury Rejects Dance Teacher's Religious Discrimination Claim
Groups Urge Change In Senate Bill To Permit Head Coverings In Drivers License Photos
Court Enforces Biblically Based Arbitration Agreement
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Canadian Tribunal Says Internet Hate Speech Law Is Unconstitutional
The Supreme Court held in Taylor that despite not requiring any proof of intent to discriminate, s. 13(1) only minimally impairs freedom of expression principally because the Act’s purpose is to prevent discrimination (as well as compensating and protecting the victim), rather than punish moral blameworthiness. ...S. 13(1) has, since the 1998 amendments, lost the exclusively compensatory and preventative features that characterized it in the eyes of the majority in Taylor. Following the Court's reasoning, it can therefore no longer be concluded that the provision still minimally impairs the Charter guaranteed freedom of expression.Canadian Press reports on the decision. The Ottawa Citizen says that an appeal to the Federal Court of Canada is likely because two other previous Tribunal decisions found the statute constitutional. [Thanks to PewSitter for the lead.]
Religious Peyote Exemption Does Not Invalidate Federal Drug Laws
Churches Sue To Prevent Noise Ordinance From Limiting Their Carillon Bells
Dutch Prosecutors Will Move Against Anti-Jewish Cartoon
Canadian Court Rejects Challenge To Quebec's New Religious Survey Courses
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Remarks At Kennedy Memorial Service Raise Issue On Mormon Temple Zoning
There was another time when the Mormon church was nearing completion of its temple here in Boston. Belmont , I think. I was approached by several people working in the temple and informed that the city would not allow a spire to be placed on the top of the temple with an angel on top of it as is customary on Mormon temples. I immediately called Ted and asked for help. Not long after that conversation, he called me back and said, "All of western Massachusetts will see the Angel Gabriel on the top of the Mormon temple. (LAUGHTER) Though I was tempted to leave it alone, I had to inform Teddy it was actually the Angel Maroni....It turns out that the question of whether a special zoning permit would be granted for the church to build its 85-foot high steeple was litigated all the way to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. In Martin v. Corporation of the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, (MA Sup. Jud. Ct., 2001), Massachusetts' high court held that a state law limiting zoning restrictions on the use of land for religious purposes (the "Dover Amendment") precluded the "unreasonable" height restriction that Belmont's zoning laws imposed.
Now those who opposed the Temple construction are asking whether Kennedy influenced the Supreme Judicial Court's decision. They say Hatch's reference to the time construction was nearing completion would put his call to Kennedy after the February 2000 decision by the Middlesex Superior Court to reverse the decision of Belmont's zoning board of appeals and ban the steeple. The only determination left after that point was that by the Supreme Judicial Court. A spokesperson for the court, however, says they had no interaction with Kennedy and he did not influence the justices in the temple case.
Obama Hosts Iftar Dinner With Interesting Guest List
"Classical" Charter School Sues Challenging Ban On Use of Religious Texts
Federal Community Service Agency Designates This Week As "Interfaith Service Week"
Consent Order Settles Suit On In-School Posters Announcing Prayer Events
Q&A On Faith Healing and the Law Posted
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Civil Rights Division Will Return To Traditional Agenda Without Ending Religious Discrimination Initiatives
Christian Groups May Not Intervene To Challenge Plan B Decision
Court Says Injunction Request Is Moot In Suit Against History Teacher
Former Miss California USA Sues Claiming Religious Discrimination
Scotish Tribunal Asks European Court If Volunteer Is Covered By Discrimination Directive
6th Circuit Rejects Discrimination Claim, But Finds Standing For Funding Challenge
The second group of claims were challenges under the Establishment Clause to the flow of state funds to KBHC. The court concluded that plaintiffs lacked standing as federal taxpayers to challenge the channeling of federal child care funds to KBHC by the state of Kentucky. It is not enough that the federal statutes merely failed to prohibit the unconstitutional use of these funds. However, the court held that plaintiffs do have standing as state taxpayers to challenge the $100 million of state funds paid to KBHC to care for children. Americans United issued a press release announcing the decision. (See prior related posting.)
Resignation of Scranton Bishops May Reflect Rejection of Anti-Obama Wing
Politics Daily yesterday posted an extensive analysis of the political implications of the resignations. Martino had become politically controversial during the 2008 election when he announced that vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden, a native of Scranton, would be denied communion because of his pro-choice views if he tried to receive communion at a church in the Scranton diocese. He also had a letter read during masses last October telling parishioners that voting for a pro-choice politician was equivalent to endorsing "homicide." Martino has also clashed with Catholic universities in his diocese and has irritated others with his abrasive style. The resignations may reflect growing dissatisfaction by fellow-bishops and the Pope with the anti-Obama rhetoric of some U.S. bishops.
Suit Challenging "40 Developmental Assets" Program Is Settled
3rd Circuit: Harassment Case Alleges Sexual Orientation, Not Religious, Discrimination
Monday, August 31, 2009
Parishioners Come Armed To Defend Pastor Who Prays For Obama's Death
Paper Explores Different Takes on Rifqa Bary's Case In Florida
Now today's Orlando Sentinel reports that the Bary case threatens to turn into an anti-Muslim campaign by some evangelical Christians. Rifqa's attorney, John Stemberger, exemplifies the rhetoric, saying: "My concern is she is literally a dead girl if she is sent back to Ohio. It's only a matter of time until she disappears into the night." At the same time, a Christian church in Gainsville posted a sign on its property reading: "Islam is of the Devil," and several children were sent home from school for wearing the same slogan on T-shirts. Imam Tariq Rasheed, director of the Islamic Center of Orlando, says this is a misrepresentation of Islam.
UPDATE: According to the Sept. 1 St. Petersburg Times, Rifqa Bary's attorney has released two documents. One is a memo (full text) arguing that the leaders of the Noor Islamic Cultural Center in Dublin, Ohio have links to terrorist organizations. A second is an affidavit from Rifqa (full text) indicating that her parents are actively involved in that mosque.
High School Band T-Shirt Pulled Back After Evolution Theme Draws Complaints
Space Shuttle Carries Relic From Historic Christian Missionary Aviation Episode
Muslim Man Complains Probation Service In Britain Refuses Religious Accommodation
Recent Articles and Book of Interest
- Brian Michael McCall, The Architecture of Law: Building Law on a Solid Foundation the Eternal and Natural Laws, (August 26, 2009).
- Bernadette A. Meyler, Commerce in Religion, (Notre Dame Law Review, Vol. 84, No. 2, 2008).
- Bernadette A. Meyler, Summum and the Establishment Clause, (Northwestern University Law Review Colloquy, Vol 104, p. 95, 2009).
Recent Book:
- Timothy J. Mockaitis, The Seal: A Priest's Story (2009), interview with author at Zenit.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Minnesota Investigating Use Of Lease Aid Funds By Charter School
Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases
In Washington v. Adams, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 74355 (ED CA, Aug. 21, 2009), a California federal magistrate judge recommended that an inmate's habeas petition be dismissed. His claim that he was denied his free exercise rights when he was not allowed to change his name is merely a challenge to conditions of confinement for which habeas corpus is not available.
In Tribesman v. California Correctional Peace Officers Association, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 74734 (CD CA, Aug. 21, 2009), a California federal magistrate judge recommended dismissal of an inmate's claim that his free exercise rights were infringed when he not allowed to attend his grandmother's funeral. It also dismissed more general free exercise claims against a correctional officer's association finding that it was not involved in determining how Native American prisoners would be treated. However the magistrate recommended that plaintiff be allowed to file an amended petition against one of the prison chaplains who allegedly denied Native Americans supplies for their sweat lodge ceremony.
In Wakefield v. Tilton, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 75391 (ED CA, Aug. 25, 2009), a California federal magistrate judge recommended dismissal of an inmate's claim that by denying his request for daily showers, the prison's Protestant chaplain violated his free exercise rights. Plaintiff claimed this was a requirement of his Seventh Day Adventist religion.
In Webb v. Smartwood, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 75283 (WD MO, June 15, 2009), a Missouri federal magistrate judge rejected free exercise claims by plaintiff who was in custody of the state Department of Mental Health. Plaintiff alleged that administering of the psychiatric drug Ativan to him violated his free exercise rights, but the court found that this claim was not supported by the evidence. Plaintiff failed to show that his alleged belief in Scientology was sincere.
In Pogue v. Woodford, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 75943 (ED CA, Aug. 26, 2009), a California federal magistrate judge recommended that most of the numerous claims by a Muslim prisoner that his religious practices were infringed (access to Jumu'ah services, lack of an imam, grooming, prayer oil, single cell status) be dismissed, but allowed him to move ahead on a claim for injunctive relief to obtain the prison's kosher diet while plans for a halal diet are being implemented.
In Scott v. Crites, (TX Ct. App., Aug. 26, 2009), a Texas state appellate court affirmed dismissal of a Native American prisoner's challenge to authorities' search of his medicine bag. Plaintiff failed to argue that prison policies on medicine bags substantially burdened his exercise of religion.
In Bailey v. Ozmint, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76651 (D SC, July 27, 2009), a South Carolina federal magistrate judge recommended that a Muslim inmate's challenge to prison grooming regulations be dismissed.
Ted Kennedy Laid To Rest; His Complex Relationship With Catholic Church Is Explored
At Kennedy's burial service at Arlington National Cemetery, retired Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick read long excerpts from a letter that Kennedy sent to Pope Benedict XVI last month and from the Pope's response. (Politics Daily.) The letter from Kennedy, hand delivered by President Obama during his July meeting with the Pope, asked the Pontiff to pray for the Senator's health. In the letter, Kennedy also reiterated his commitment to health care reform and said he believes in conscience protection for Catholics in the health care field. The Pope's response through a senior Vatican official, two weeks later, expressed the Pontiff's concern for Kennedy and said in part: "His Holiness prays that in the days ahead you may be sustained in faith and hope, and granted the precious grace of joyful surrender to the will of God our merciful Father." Meanwhile Time Magazine notes while the Vatican's official newspaper L'Osservatore Romano has reported on Kennedy's death, noticeably absent is a statement directly from the Pope.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
EEOC Says Meatpacker Should Have Adjusted Break Times For Muslim Workers
Iowa School District's Religion Policy Is Being Redrafted
School District's Mission Statement Challenged For Including Belief in God
We Value: Responsibility, honesty, respect, integrity, commitment, belief in God and religious freedom, our community, our partnerships, and every person as a unique individual with the ability to acquire and apply knowledge.In its letter to the superintendent and school board (full text), FFRF said that the school district is unconstitutionally advancing religion through its use of the statement. The mission statement was included in the Board's newsletter, the Blue Streak News, and on a page of the Board's website. Thursday's Canton Repository reported on the letter. [Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.]
Friday, August 28, 2009
Cert. Filed In Case Invoving Religious Speech By High School Valedictorian
Group Challenges Toledo City Council Invocations
Michigan School Board Reinstitutes "Christmas Break"
Waldvogel sent his message in reply to one he received from the Superintendent's secretary regarding the school calendar. Apparently he hit "reply to all" without realizing how broadly his e-mail would be circulated. At any rate, on Tuesday the Freedom from Religion Foundation wrote the school district (full text of letter) complaining about the Board's action and asking it to dissociate itself from Waldvogel's remarks. It says the change to "Christmas Break" unconstitutionally advances Christianity over other religions. Yesterday's National Examiner and today's Michigan Messenger report on the controversy.We are in spite of what the Obamessiah says, STILL a Christian nation, founded on Judeo Christian principles.... [E]ither agree to change the "December vacation" back to "Christmas break" in all future publications (including the school calendar) voluntarily, or I will make a motion to change it at the next board meeting and raise such a stink, and bring out every redneck Christian conservative north of Clare to compel the district to do so....
Let the Ramadamians and the Kwanzanians bring their celebrations to school too .... to share with our Christian children, but don't cut God out of the school completely.... Don't assume this is a joke, I'm being as serious as I possibly can here."
EEOC Sues Company That Refused Alternative Drug Test For Employee
Justice Ginsburg Denies Petition For Stay By Bridgeport Catholic Diocese
UPDATE: AP reports that on Friday, the Bridgeport Diocese submitted its request for a stay to Justice Antonin Scalia, hoping he will rule differently than did Justice Ginsburg. (Docket entry.) Supreme Court Rule 22 permits an application denied by the Justice assigned to the Circuit where the case arose to be refiled with any other justice. David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, complained: "The appeal to the court's most stridently Catholic member, whose son is a priest, smacks of desperation and favoritism."
Malaysia Bars Muslims From Attending Concert Sponsored By Guinness
Collateral Defendants Settle In Suit Claiming Religion In Class of Ohio Science Teacher
Under the settlement, negotiated by the Board's insurance carrier, the other defendants agreed to pay $115,500 for plaintiffs' legal fees, and damages of $5,500 to one plaintiff, along with nominal damages of $1 each to two others. The settlement also bars staff from discussing the case with students. It calls for training in church-state issues for board members, administrators and teachers. This has already been done. Finally the school board is to make a public statement at the conclusion of the pending administrative hearing on whether Freshwater should be fired. (See prior posting.) The settlement must be approved and approved by the Probate Court of Knox County before a motion to dismiss is filed in federal court. the National Center for Science Education also has a report on developments in the case.
Court Says There Was No Discrimination Against Muslim School Employee
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Court Preliminarily Enjoins Enforcement of Illinois Pharmacy Board Rule
New York Releases 2008 Hate Crime Statistics
Court Says No Establishment Clause Violation By Orthodox Jewish School Board Majority
Plaintiffs’ contend, the Defendants’plan to sell a school and keep taxes low somehow establishes Orthodox Judaism as Lawrence’s official religion. This argument is completely frivolous....Yesterday, both Newsday and Long Island's Jewish Star reported on the decision. [Thanks to both Benjamin Wolf and Joel Katz (Relig. & State in Israel) for leads.]
Plaintiffs essentially complain about low taxes, alleging that these low taxes enable Orthodox Jews residing in Lawrence to afford parochial schools. But if, as in Mueller, tax deductions targeted at private education survive Constitutional muster, then untargeted lower taxes – which help individuals afford everything from parochial education to groceries to vacations – obviously must.....
[U]nder Plaintiffs' reasoning, no claim would lie against political conservatives who ideologically disfavor spending on public schools, or retirees who have no children in the public school system and want lower taxes to boost their discretionary income. Rather, Plaintiffs believe that the School Board’s actions are problematic entirely because the School Board members are Orthodox Jews who are motivated, in part, to help other Orthodox Jews pay yeshiva tuition by lowering their tax burden. In short, Plaintiffs seek to deny Orthodox Jews political rights possessed by every other group in the United States: the right to mobilize in support of religiously neutral government policies, and then have those policies enacted through normal democratic processes. And Plaintiffs seek to do so because, Plaintiffs allege, the School Board's religiously neutral government actions are motivated by the Jewish faith, instead of anti-tax sentiment generally.
Plaintiffs thus ask this Court to discriminate against Orthodox Jews by finding that lower taxes and smaller government are unconstitutional because many of the tax cut’s beneficiaries would choose to allocate their tax savings to Jewish education rather than secular pursuits. But if the First Amendment means anything, it is that the Government cannot prohibit individuals from spending their own money to fulfill the obligations of their religious faith.
Bangladesh Court Orders Police To Investigate Fatwa and Village Arbitration
Florida Standardized Test Dates Conflict With Holidays In 2011
TRO Lets Parochial School Musician Into Public School Band
Kentucky's Required Display of Findings On God Violate Establishment Clause
The nature of this statute is much more than an acknowledgement that people have historically looked to God for protection. The statute pronounces very plainly that current citizens of the Commonwealth cannot be safe, neither now nor in the future, without the aid of Almighty God.... Effectively the General Assembly has created an official government position on God.McClatchy Newspapers and the Louisville Courier Journal reported on the decision, as did a release from American Atheists.
UPDATE: The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that on Sept. 4 the state filed a notice of appeal in the case as well as a motion to stay enforcement of the trial court's ruling pending appeal.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Sen. Ted Kennedy Dies; Remembering His Views On Religion In Public Life
[Thanks to Blog from the Capitol for a link to the speech.]I am an American and a Catholic; I love my country and treasure my faith. But I do not assume that my conception of patriotism or policy is invariably correct, or that my convictions about religion should command any greater respect than any other faith in this pluralistic society. I believe there surely is such a thing as truth, but who among us can claim a monopoly on it? There are those who do, and their own words testify to their intolerance....
But in saying that, we cannot and should not turn aside from a deeper and more pressing question -- which is whether and how religion should influence government.... The separation of church and state can sometimes be frustrating for women and men of religious faith. They may be tempted to misuse government in order to impose a value which they cannot persuade others to accept. But once we succumb to that temptation, we step onto a slippery slope where everyone’s freedom is at risk. Those who favor censorship should recall that one of the first books ever burned was the first English translation of the Bible.....
The real transgression occurs when religion wants government to tell citizens how to live uniquely personal parts of their lives.... But there are other questions which are inherently public in nature, which we must decide together as a nation, and where religion and religious values can and should speak to our common conscience..... There must be standards for the exercise of such leadership, so that the obligations of belief will not be debased into an opportunity for mere political advantage. But to take a stand at all when a question is both properly public and truly moral is to stand in a long and honored tradition.....
First, we must respect the integrity of religion itself. People of conscience should be careful how they deal in the word of their Lord. In our own history, religion has been falsely invoked to sanction prejudice -- even slavery -- to condemn labor unions and public spending for the poor.....Religious values cannot be excluded from every public issue; but not every public issue involves religious values.... Second, we must respect the independent judgments of conscience. Those who proclaim moral and religious values can offer counsel, but they should not casually treat a position on a public issue as a test of fealty to faith.... Third, in applying religious values, we must respect the integrity of public debate. In that debate, faith is no substitute for facts..... Fourth, and finally, we must respect the motives of those who exercise their right to disagree.....
In short, I hope for an America where neither "fundamentalist" nor "humanist" will be a dirty word, but a fair description of the different ways in which people of goodwill look at life and into their own souls.
3rd Circuit Dismisses Abortion Protesters' Bid To Stand On Handicapped Ramp
Catholic Magazine Publishes Reflections On the Obama-Notre Dame Controversy
The diocesan bishop must ask whether a Catholic institution compromises its obligation to give public witness by placing prestige over truth. The bishop must be concerned that Catholic institutions do not succumb to the secular culture, making decisions that appear to many, including ordinary Catholics, as a surrender to a culture opposed to the truth about life and love.The second article, from John R. Quinn, archbishop emeritus of San Francisco, takes a different tack. He argues that a strategy of refusing to award an honorary degree to the President "undermines the church's transcendent role in the American political order." He continues:
[T]he Obama controversy, in concert with a series of candidate-related condemnations during the 2008 election, has communicated several false and unintended messages to much of American society..... 1. The message that the Catholic bishops of the United States function as partisan political actors in American life. ...2. The message that the bishops are ratifying the "culture war mentality," which corrodes debate both in American politics and in the internal life of the church.... 3. The message that the bishops are effectively indifferent to all grave evils other than abortion.... 4. The message that the bishops are insensitive to the heritage and the continuing existence of racism in America.[Thanks to Mirror of Justice for the lead.]
Washington State Bans All Holiday Displays Inside Capitol Building
Q: Will you allow displays and exhibits?[Thanks to Blog from the Capitol for the lead.]
The interim policy does not allow the public to place displays and exhibits in the public areas of the capitol buildings, regardless of content. However, subject to reasonable time, place and manner restrictions, you may be permitted to place displays outside on the capitol grounds.
Q: Will you permit a Nativity scene in the Legislative Building during the holiday season?
No. General Administration has turned down a request for a Nativity display inside the Legislative Building for December 2009.
Q: Will you permit an atheist display in the Legislative Building during the holiday
season?
No. General Administration has turned down a request for an atheist display inside the Legislative Building for December 2009.
Q: Will there be a holiday tree at the Legislative Building this year?
Yes. The holiday tree will continue as a General Administration activity.