National Alliance Against Christian Discrimination

National Alliance Against Christian Discrimination
"Protecting and Promoting the Christian Faith and Our Religious Heritage."

Updates 3:

School Bans The Ten
“The U.S. Supreme Court has let a high school ban the Ten Commandments from its baseball field. The court, without comment, allowed a school district policy that rejected an ad on a fence at Downey High School in Downey, California. The ad listed the Ten Commandments sand said, ‘Meditate on these principles to live by.’
Businessman Edward DiLoretto, who paid $400 for the ad on the 4-foot-high outfield fence, said disallowing the ad discriminated against his religious speech and violated his religious freedom. The court disagreed, siding with a lower court that had said the baseball field fence was ‘a forum limited to certain subjects and not open for indiscriminate use by the general public.’
The school board was free to exclude subjects that would ‘be disruptive to the educational purpose of the school,’ the lower court had said, noting that a Planned Parenthood ad also had been rejected.” (Current News Summary. 4/18/2000.)

U.S. Capitol Praying
“A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has ruled in favor of a Maryland evangelist who sued the U.S. Capitol Police after he was told it was illegal for him to pray inside the U.S. Capitol because praying was considered to be a prohibited form of demonstration. The Court also ordered the Capitol Police to refrain from using what it calls ‘an unconstitutional restriction on speech’ in the future.
Pierre Bynum, an associate pastor at Waldorf Christian Assembly in Waldorf, Maryland, and a group of eight persons were on a self-guided tour of the Capitol in November of 1996 and engaged in a few moments of prayer during which the members of the group bowed their heads and folded their hands. The police said such activity was considered to be a ‘demonstration’ and warned the group they would be arrested if they continued to pray.
Bynum was represented in his lawsuit by the American Center for Law and Justice, whose senior counsel James Henderson said the ruling was ‘ an important deciison upholding the First Amendment rights of all citizens.’” (Maranatha Christian Journal. 4/11/2000.)

Licensing VBS?
“The pastor of a Massachusetts church recently wrote to Christian Legal Association expressing concern over a news report that Vacation Bible School programs must be licensed and regulated by the Public Health Department as summer camps, defined as ‘any children’s program that meets for more than two hours a day or more than four days in a two-week period.’ Last summer several churches had to shorten their VBS programs to avoid the licensing requirement.
CLA attorneys immediately wrote to the commissioner of the department to explain that the purpose of VBS programs is not to provide child care, but to give religious instruction to the children who attend. A department official responded to CLA’s letter, indicating that because of the concerns addressed by several organizations operating summer classroom-based programs, the department will soon adopt language which will exempt VBS programs as classroom-based instructional programs which involve no high hazard activities.” (The Legal Alert. May 2000.)

Prison Censorship Attempt
“Inmates of Murfreesboro, Tennessee’s Rutherford County Adult Detention Center are once again enrolled in Bible correspondence courses, thanks to the efforts of the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy.
Dr. David Schuringa, President of Crossroad Bible Institute, contacted the AFA in November, 1999. Crossroad Bible Institute (CBI) has been sending discipleship materials into jails and prisons in 50 states and 32 countries for over 15 years. Christian broadcast ministries such as Radio Bible Class, Ligionier Ministries, Prison Fellowship and The Back to God hour refer inmates to CBI’s staff of 1,500 trained instructors, who currently disciple about 7,000 students worldwide.
Prior to October, 199, no jail had ever refused to forward CBI’s Christ-centered Bible study materials to its inmates. A county jail in Murfreesboro then became the first to turn away CBI’s mailings, stating that such correspondence course materials constituted an ‘unreasonable security, health and safety risk.’
AFA attorney Bryan J. Brown responded wi5ht a letter detailing the applicable constitutional law, and threatening to seek injunctive relief in federal court if the jail continued to deny inmates the opportunity to participate in CBI’s correspondence courses. The Murfreesboro facility determined it best to change its policy soon after hearing from the AFA, and its inmates are once again receiving CBI’s mailings.” (AFA Action Alert. 1/25/2000.)

Christian Cop Fired
“After his chief, David Kunkle, said the cross might be ‘offensive’ to some people, Arlington, Texas, police officer George Daniels was fired for wearing a lapel pin symbolic of his religious convictions and is now suing the department for wrongful termination and violation of his constitutional rights.
Believing Kunkels’ order to be a First Amendment offense, Daniels consulted with attorneys at the Rutherford Institute, a legal and educational organization dedicated to defending civil liberties, who supported the officer’s position. As a result, Daniels began wearing the lapel pin.
Several weeks later, the 12-year department veteran was fired for ‘insubordination’ – the most sever charge department officials can levy. Daniels was given no advance notice of his discharge, and his final paycheck was held for three months during his appeal process with the department.” (WorldNetDaily. 4/13/2000.)

Trooper Fired
“An Indiana state trooper was fired from his job when he wouldn’t work at a casino. Ben Endres was dismissed last month by his State Police supervisor after refusing to report for duty at the Blue Chip Casino on a riverboat on Lake Michigan. Troopers are assigned on a rotating basis as plain-clothes agents of the Gaming Commission.
Endres said he felt that his presence would condone gambling and drinking, and had asked his supervisors in a letter to be relieved of the duty because of his religious beliefs. He expressed a willingness to do ‘virtually any job’ to avoid violating his beliefs, said the Rutherford Institute, a Christian legal group representing Endres in a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.” (Current News Summary. 5/8/2000.)

Freedom From Religion
“The image may make members wince, but when the Freedom from Religion Foundation wins a round – like sharing down the Lord’s Prayer at a senior citizens center – you almost can hear the Sunday morning alleluias. ‘I won!’ chortles Everett Wilson, punching his fist in the air.
Welcome to the monthly meeting of FFRF, where Wilson, a guest from Nebraska, and a dozen Denver members are reviewing their latest attempts to squelch public religious displays. By threatening to sue, Wilson, a retired gay man, stopped 50 golden-agers from saying the Lord’s Prayer at a public building. Amazing what a little legal leverage can do.
Bernard Nielsen, another retired gay man says his core issue is Christian opposition to homosexuality. ‘They are my enemy and I’m fighting them at every opportunity,’ he says. (The Gazette. 5/27/2000.)

Banned in America
“On May 17, 2000, schools and courthouses in eastern Kentucky were taking down displays of historical documents – including the Mayflower Compact and the preamble to the state’s constitution – in compliance with an order from Federal District Judge Jennifer Coffman, who said the displays are a violation of the First Amendment.
The judge claimed that these displays do not pass constitutional muster as they were specifically designed to promote Christianity. Displays contained the following documents:
¨ The National Motto – ‘In God We Trust.’
¨ The Declaration of Independence – the phrase, ‘All men…are endowed by their Creator.”
¨ The Preamble to the Constitution of Kentucky – the phrase, ‘We, the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, grateful to Almighty God…’
¨ A Congressional Record page – called the ‘Year of the Bible.’
¨ A Proclamation by President Ronald Reagan – ‘1983 Year of the Bible.’
¨ An Excerpt from President Abraham Lincoln – ‘Lincoln’s Reply to Loyal Colored People of Baltimore upon Presentation of a Bible.’
¨ The Mayflower Compact – colony’s founders invoke ‘the name of God.’
¨ The Ten Commandments
Defendants, including Judge Darrell BeShears of Pulaski County, who set up a display in his courthouse, maintain their purpose was to teach residents and students about American religious history and the foundations of the modern state.
‘We certainly agree with the judge’s ruling. There is little chance that these displays could be found constitutional,’ said Jeff Vessels, executive director of the ACLU of Kentucky.” (WorldNetDaily. 5/17/2000.)

From Bible to Buddha
“Threatened lawsuits over ‘Bible Week’ led Arizona Gov. Jane Hull to say she would avoid any future proclamations involving religion. But Hull recently signed a proclamation commemorating the birth of Buddha, an action that has some Christians in the state accusing her of hypocrisy. Asked if Hull would sign a proclamation commemorating the birth of Jesus, one political commentator speculated, ‘I honestly can’t tell you that. As I said, we look at these things on a …case-by-case basis.’” (Maranatha Christian Journal. 6/22/2000.)

Evangelism Not Hate Crime
“Stung by assertions that preaching can lead to hate crimes, some of the country’s most prominent Christian leaders are reasserting the constitutional right to evangelize. Eighty-four scholars, theologians, and church leaders recently endorsed a document called The Chicago Declaration on Religious Freedom: Sharing Jesus Christ in a Pluralistic Society.
The leaders rejected the notion that evangelism undermines ‘a peaceful, pluralistic society and may lead to intolerance, bigotry, and even violence,’ but said that only a society that permits free discourse ‘can safeguard the true liberty, freedom, and human dignity we all pursue.’” (Current News Summary. 6/6/2000.)

Religious Brick Barred
“A Tennessee couple barred from inscribing a religious message on a commemorative brick at their daughter’s school are suing the local school board. The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) filed suit on behalf of Thomas and Melody Horne, who live in East Brainerd County.
The Hornes each wanted to buy a $50 brick inscribed ‘Hope Horne, to the Glory of God,’ but were told by school officials that they could not use any language referring to God. They suggested writing the dedication in Latin instead – ‘Hope Horne, Soli Deo Gloria’ – but were turned down again.
The Hornes’ suit argues that the brick project – which has raised around $15,000 for the school – was open to everyone in the community, and the application placed no restrictions on messages.
ACLJ attorney Stuart Roth said, ‘Individual citizens are always free to engage in religious speech. It’s not the government speaking. It’s the family speaking, not the school.’” (Charisma News Service. 6/6/2000.)

Censoring Church Signs
“A crew from the Washington D.C. Department of Public Works showed up at Lincoln Park United Methodist Church in Northeast Washington in early June, disconnected the church’s new $5,000 lawn sign and carted it off on a flatbed truck.
On the sign were a scripture citation and these words: ‘Was it Adam and Eve or Adam and Steve?’ The removal of the sign left church leaders horrified. They say they were given a written ultimatum to take down the sign only two hours before city officials came in and hauled it away.
According to Rev. Lewis, who was preaching on homosexuality that week, said, “If the gay community can rally and have a movement to support their right to a cause, why can’t we freely express our beliefs?” (The Washington Post. 6/7/2000.)

AU Protests Falwell
“Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group headed by Barry Lynn, asked the IRS to investigate Jerry Falwell’s tax-exempt effort, called People of Faith 2000, and to force the group to adhere to the law. The IRS forbids tax-exempt groups, like most churches, from directly participating in partisan politics.
Falwell said, ‘We’re not endorsing or opposing any candidate or any party. We are not even sending out voter guides. We believe that if we are able to get millions of people of faith to the polls November 7, most Americans certainly will be able to live with the results.’
Falwell also implied in his letter announcing the registration drive that conservative efforts to register voters are unfairly targeted by the IRS. ‘Obviously, we will not endrose or posse an congressional, presidential or other candidates. This is not allowed by law. Only liberal clergymen and religious organizations can endorse candidates and raise church funds for candidates without civil or criminal repercussion,’ said Dr. Falwell.” (CBN News. 6/3/2000.)

Barry Buries Conservatives
“Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU), an organization that has recurrently enacted lawsuits against faith organizations nationwide, has launched an attack on People of Faith 2000, the Rev. Jerry Falwell’s mass voter-registration effort.
In a complaint filed with the Internal Revenue Service in May, AU Executive Director Barry Lynn said that Rev. Falwell’s appeal for donations indicates that his ministry is defying bans on partisan politicking by tax-exempt groups. The organization is a self-proclaimed ‘watchdog group,’ founded in 1947, ‘that advocates separation of church from state.’
Rev. Falwell, responding to the AU complaint, said, ‘Barry Lynn seems to file a complaint against evangelicals about once a week. He may have developed his animosity toward evangelicals while working on the staff at the American Civil Liberties Union.’
Lynn’s “reverend” status and “ordination” is questionable. By Lynn’s own admission, he was ordained by an extremely liberal, leftist denomination and has never served in any local church in a conventional pastoral role. His reverend title is simply a ploy to give the public the impression that he was a pastor with a sincere concern about ministers involving themselves in moral, social and political issues.
According to Falwell, ‘Barry Lynn is a wolf in sheep’s clothing who has a chip on his shoulder against evangelical Christians.’” (National Liberty Journal. June 2000.)

Denying Workplace Christians
“Three employees of Sandia National laboratories have brought a discrimination suit against the company after a proposed employee group – Christians in the Workplace Networking Group – was denied official recognition. The Christian employees complain that, while they have been denied permission to meet, Sandia officially recognizes the Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Networking Group at the facility.
Stephen M. Crampton, legal counsel for the employees and an attorney with the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy, says the response has been one of ‘hypocrisy.’ Sandia’s response, he says, claims that it provides ‘an employee-friendly environment free of prejudice to anyone,’ and in the same breath it attacks AFA as being ‘inflammatory and divisive.’
“In other words,’ Crampton said, ‘Sandia believes in diversity only when it does not include religious beliefs. Such as biased position, excluding the cornerstone of the First Amendment, must be stricken.’” (National Liberty Journal. June 2000.)

Secularizing America
“Ohio’s state motto – ‘With God, all things are possible’ – has been ruled unconstitutional. This motto was adopted as the state’s official motto by the general assembly on October 1, 1959. Until April 25, it was lawfully used by public officials on ‘official stationery and forms and appears on the Franklin County Courthouse. However, on April 25, a three-judge panel in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the words violated the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The case is being appealed.
What will happen to other states if Ohio’s motto is removed? The state motto in Arizona is ‘God Enriches;’ in Colorado it is ‘Nothing without Providence;’ in Connecticut it is ‘He Who Transplanted, Still Sustains;’ in Florida it is ‘In God We Trust;’ and in South Dakota it is ‘Under God the People Rule.’ We are truly moving toward the secularization of America.” (National Liberty Journal. Christian Law Association. June 2000.)

Censoring Library
“A public library that recently rejected a patron’s book donation for being too ‘political’ is now being accused by a library employee of wholesale discrimination against conservative groups wishing to sue library facilities.
While routinely denying conservative organizations use of meeting rooms, under a policy prohibiting ‘partisan’ activities on library property, library management, according to the employee, allows Democratic Party groups and other liberal organizations to use the facilities for political meetings and organizing events.
WorldNetDaily was contacted by a Toledo library staff member who verified that the library regularly imposes a ‘litmus test’ when acquiring new materials – excluding books, videos and other media items that espouse a conservative or Christian worldview. (WorldNetDaily. 6/14/2000.)

Courtroom Religion?
“A Harris County (Texas) man would like a federal judge to write an addendum to the Ten Commandments – thou shalt not display religious Scripture in a courtroom.
James Craig Guetersloh filed a motion recently for preliminary and permanent injunctions barring state District Judge John Devine from displaying the sacred text in his courtroom. Guetersloh said he noticed the biblical laws hanging inside the witness box during a trip to review the pleadings in a lawsuit filed against him.
Devoutly religious jurors might view the text as an instruction to ignore the facts of the case and allow the Scriptures to guide their verdict, he says. Last year, 41 members of Congress agreed to post the Ten Commandments in their offices to endorse legislation to allow posting the sacred text on school grounds. (Houston Chronicle. 6/9/2000.)

Teacher Restricted
“Burlington-Edison High School (Mt. Vernon WA) science teacher Roger DeHart says he always corrects the biology textbook he uses in class. He says he must seek ‘true evidence, accurate evidence,’ no matter what. And when he finds that evidence, he must present that to his ninth- and 10th-grade students.
But recently DeHart, accused two years ago by the American Civil Liberties Union of bringing God into the classroom, found some new evidence pointing out alleged flaws in research done to support Darwin’s theories. Principal Beth Vander Veen refused to allow DeHart to introduce five articles – all from mainstream publications – to supplement the biology course curriculum for his students.
The ACLU accused him of teaching the theory of intelligent design. That theory assumes the world is too complex to be anything but the plan of an intelligent agent, which the ACLU believes borders on teaching creationism in a state-funded, public school. They claim DeHart’s evidence will just plant seeds of doubt in students’ minds.” (Skagit Valley Herald. Mt. Vernon, WA. 5/29/2000.)

Curbing Canadian Christians
“The Supreme Court in Canada will rule on whether a Christian college that disapproves of homosexuality may train teachers for Canadian public schools. The case involves Trinity Western University and the British Columbia College of Teachers in 1996 and may set a historic precedent concerning religious freedoms in Canada.
The teacher-training program at TWU, a Christian school 20 miles east of Vancouver, was first denied full accreditation by BCCT in 1996. BCCT said TWU’s stance that homosexuality is a sin amounted to discriminatory practice. BCCT warned that even though the program met all academic qualifications, teachers trained at TWU might discriminate against homosexual students.” (Christianity Today. 5-2000.)
Editor’s Note: Concerned and/or conservative federal and state legislators should keep a watchful eye on the legal cases and ramifications being set in other countries. The same cases will arrive in the United States.

CBS Discrimination
“During the showing of the miniseries ‘Jesus’ in May, CBS refused to run a Christian Web site’s advertising. The network said it rejected advertising for iBelieve.com because it ‘relates too closely’ to this show and could confuse viewers into thinking the ad and show promote each other. CBS said it would not run the ads on the show Touched By An Angel for the same reason.”
CBS also said the ads were rejected because they would commercialize the show and were not ‘consistent with the expectations of a diverse audience.’ CBS leaders told iBelieve.com executives they would allow the company to purchase advertising as long as it was not during Christian programming.”( WorldNetDaily. 5/10/2000; Current News Summary. 5/11/2000; The Gazette. 5/11/2000.)

Witchy Hate Crime
“A witch in Maine has been charged with a hate crime against a Christian. In what may be a first in the state, Scott Buchanan, 27, of Livermore, who claims to have evil powers and the ability to read minds, was charged by the attorney general’s office under the state’s Civil Rights Act, the Bangor Daily News said.
‘I hate Christians,’ Buchanan told a 16-year-old co-worker at an Auburn restaurant, according to the complaint, which quoted Buchanan as saying Christians ‘should all be burned at the stake like witches.’ The case may be the first in which Christianity was the religion targeted in a hate crime, Attorney General Andrew Ketterer said.
Maine has asked a judge to stop Buchanan from threatening or hurting the boy, the attorney general said. ‘It is unfortunate that there are those in our community who would make threats of violence because of a person’s religion,’ Ketterer said. ‘This office is committed to protecting the rights of all people in Maine to be free from violence and threats.’” (Current News Summary. 5/31/2000.)

Judging the Bible-Thumpers
“In the Senate Judiciary Committee, Mr. Orrin Hatch presiding, is considering Ms. Bonnie Campbell, a Clinton nominee for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Campbell had this to say about Christian conservatives at a teachers’ union event: ‘I hate to call them Christian because I am Christian, and I hate to call them religious, because they’re not…These are the people that get their orders from God, which is funny because I get contrary orders from God. Maybe there’s more than one God.’” (The Federalist. 6/2/2000.)

Pagan Day?
“Asheville, N.C., has become the center of an unlikely spiritual clash. The city of 68,000 known as the home of Billy Graham and his training center, also has become ‘America’s new freak capital,’ Rolling Stone magazine said.
Residents are not pleased with the new label for the city, located in the hills where Methodist revival preacher Francis Asbury rode his horse spreading the gospel during the second great awakening.
The situation came to a head when the mayor proclaimed the last week in October ‘Earth Religions Awareness’ week, arousing anger among Christians for the city’s support of paganism. About 3,000 Christians protested in front of city hall, and asked the mayor also to proclaim it as ‘The Lordship of Christ’ week. She rescinded her earlier proclamation, upsetting many local pagans.” (Current News Summary. 6/2/2000.)

Christians Aren’t Dangerous
“Is there a reason for the unwarranted hostility coming from courts against Christians. Fear, perhaps? Within these rulings, there seems to be a pervasive thought that somehow religion in general and Christians in particular may be – could be – are – dangerous to society. No matter what, the court seems to be saying, ‘Don’t worry; we’ll protect you against them (Christians).’
The reality is that Christians, as a group, are the safest, most responsible and law abiding people on this planet. True Christians are about as dangerous to society as an arsonist with an empty matchbook. Why doesn’t that matter?
So demonized are Christians that anytime one is mentioned in the public forum, the term itself is usually preceded by unflattering adjectives, like ‘right-wing,’ ‘zealous,’ and the F-word – ‘fundamentalist.’
Meanwhile, all of the Supreme Court’s rulings on the issue of public religious displays only underscore this wrongheaded perception, this fear of an otherwise subtle, docile segment of our society. What’s to fear?
I think the real reason American secular society today ‘fears’ the Christian faith (in all its forms) is because those who believe ascribe to a higher morality and personal code of conduct. A touch act to follow if you’re a committed moral relativist with an ‘anything goes’ mindset.
Statistically speaking, persons with no moral, Christian-based convictions are more likely to kill, rape, burn and plunder. Now do you see what I mean? Christianity is not dangerous. What is dangerous is for a nation to lose its soul – as we are well on our way to doing.” (Jon E. Dougherty. Staff Writer for WorldNetDaily. “Christians Are No Danger.” 6/28/2000.)

Anti-God Sex & the City
“The HBO hit, ‘Sex and the City,’ show sexual vibrators in all their shiny glory, and their benefits are discussed amply if discreetly. I hope I won’t be excommunicated for referring to God and vibrators in the same column, but both figure in a particular episode, and perhaps are connected.
A minute or so of screen time and a very nice Ukrainian cleaning woman has accidentally come across one of our young ladies’ vibrators, for which she earns herself a severe reprimand.
But the reprimand is far more severe when the cleaning woman, in perfectly good humor, says ‘God Bless!’ on parting from her employer, Miranda. But Miranda (the vibrator lady)flies into an absolute rage at this invocation of the divine. She becomes truly menacing when, her rage apparently not being enough, she swears she will dismiss her poor servant if the woman ever blesses her again in the name of God. The woman is quite startled (as indeed was I).
This fashionable lady from New York’s East Side, in conflict with her cleaning woman, bristles with belligerent hostility to religion even in dealing with her servants. I have encountered this attitude frequently among America’s educated, affluent classes. (Richard Grenier. WorldNetDaily. 6/28/2000.)

Religious School Equality
“The Supreme Court held on June 27 in Helms v. Mitchell that it is not a violation of the Establishment Clause for the government to provide instructional equipment to nonpublic schools, including parochial schools.
At issue in this case was a federal statute which provides financial assistance to all nonpublic schools in the form of instructional equipment, which can include computers, printers, library books, maps, filmstrip projectors, videocassette recorders, overhead projectors, and sound recordings.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the statute in 1998, claming it violated the Establishment Clause, but not before also declaring that the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence on the Establishment Clause was a ‘vast, perplexing desert.’ The Supreme Court issued a clarifying ruling, safeguarding equal equipment distribution to all nonpublic schools.
According to a FRC Legal Analyst, ‘The government cannot deny school children important educational equipment as long as it is distributed equally among all nonpublic schools. When government treats all schools equally, it does not establish religion.’” (Family Research Council. 6/28/2000.)

Judge Censors Ads
“The ads proclaimed hope for homosexuals, but a federal judge said San Francisco had a ‘duty’ to call them hate speech. The city’s Board of Supervisors even claimed the ads were partially responsible for the death of Matthew Shepard and hostility toward gays.
‘Truth in Love’ was an ad campaign, sponsored by several Christian organizations, that proclaimed homosexuals can change. ‘The dream that I thought could never happen – having a wife and kids – has finally come true,’ said one of the ads. ‘If you’re hurting, lonely or confused, Jesus can set you free.’
The city of San Francisco concluded the ads contributed to ‘horrible crimes committed against gays and lesbians,’ and city officials asked local TV stations not to run them. In response, pro-family groups (including American Family Association) filed a lawsuit in October 1999 to stop the Board of Supervisors from issuing similar resolutions in the future. Earlier this month, however, a federal judge ruled the city was only doing its ‘duty’ to address concerns for ‘public safety.’
‘Nothing like this has ever happened in this country,’ said Brian Fahling, with the AFA’s Center for Law and Policy. ‘This, really, is extraordinary and should give everybody great pause, because now we have a court decision – a federal court decision – that says governments can take official action condemning religious beliefs.’” (Family News in Focus. 6/27/2000.)

Escalating Anti-Christianism
“Isolation of, and discrimination against Christians is growing almost geometrically. This is the way it started in Germany against the Jews. As they became more isolated and marginalized by the Nazi propaganda machine, as popular hatred and prejudice against the Jews increased among the German people, wholesale persecution followed. Could this be where the growing anti-Christian consensus in America is taking us?” (Don McAlvany. The Midnight Herald.)

Lashing Lieberman
“After the Anti-Defamation League publicly asked Lieberman recently to temper his religiosity and stop talking about God, the American Civil Liberties Union, People for the American Way and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State all lodged their disaffection well.” (The Gazette. 8/30/2000.)
Editorial Comment: Rev. Lou Sheldon of Traditional Values Coalition has given Lieberman an “Honorary Evangelical Award” for receiving the same persecution that conservative Christians have received throughout the last three decades.

In God We Limit
“The Jefferson County School Board has ruled against posting the national motto, ‘In God We Trust,’ in its schools unless it is displayed in an educational context. Las month, the Colorado Board of Education voted to encourage such postings. The nonbinding recommendation left the final decision with local school boards.
On 8/10/2000, the Jefferson County board, which represents the largest school district in the state, voted unanimously against it. ‘We don’t want our schools engulfed in controversy,’ said Jon DeStefano, board president.
Supporters say the postings provide an opportunity to give children a moral compass. Opponents say they are a veiled attempt to introduce and violate the U.S. Constitution.” (The Gazette. 8/12/2000.)

Mass, No Mas?
“The nondemoninational worship facilities at Denver International Airport come in handy for some travelers. We can’t see how services might breach the proverbial separation between church and state, considering the two-room chapel was paid for the DIA Interfaith Chapel Inc., which consists of Christians, Jews and Muslims.
So far, to our knowledge, no one has complained, but attorneys for the airport say one traveler did write to criticize the airport’s practice of announcing Catholic masses over its public address system. That was sufficient to prompt airport authorities to cancel the announcement a while back.
Now, Denver Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput has written to complain of the curtailment, and the airport’s attorneys have, in turn, set about trying to determine procedures at other airports with chapels. Concerns about state endorsement of religion have a profound origin, of course. But to invoke that seminal concern time and again over contemporary minutiae stands eventually to devalue our hard-won heritage of religious freedom.” (The Gazette. Editorial Staff. 8/18/2000.)

Boy’s Bible Banned
“A civil rights suit filed by a boy who was forbidden to read his favorite Bible story to school classmates was recently dismissed by default. Zachary Hood’s action was rejected when U.S. Court of Appeals judges were split equally over their decision, thereby affirming the previous lower court ruling.
This 1995 incident followed one when Hood – now 10 – was in kindergarten and his Thanksgiving poster was taken down and redisplayed in a less prominent location because of its religious theme. Kevin Hasson, attorney for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represented Hood said the decision would be appealed.” (Charisma News Service. 8/29/2000.)

Conservatives Censored
“More than 1000 religious and spiritual leaders convened at the United Nations from August 28-31st for the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders. Conservatives were outraged that evangelical Christians were denied participation.
According to Robert Maginnis, Vice President for Foreign Policy at the Family Research Council, ‘The promised goals of the summit may be ‘peace’ and ‘tolerance,’ but the unspoken agenda is one of leftist politics. Like a wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing, the Millennium Summit cloaked anti-life, anti-family politics in the robes of religion.’ (Family Research Council. August 2000.)

Supporting Sacred Spurned
“Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush has come under fire for his support for March of Jesus, the global public prayer and praise event. The Texas governor – who has spoken openly about his Christian faith – declared June 10th as ‘Jesus Day’ in his state to honor the event. His decision was then criticized by Democratic opponent Al Gore, who was then selecting Senator Joe Lieberman as his running mate.
Bush was one of 10 governors across the country that issued a statewide proclamation for the event, which saw Christians taking part in a wide range of social care projects before joining public rallies.” (Charisma News Service. 8/10/2000.)

Dems Okay GodTalk
“Some people have suggested that there is a serious double standard when it comes to religion; that it’s OK for Democrats to mention God with no political fallout, but not Republicans.
During Lieberman’s acceptance speech, he used the name of God over 15 times and even quoted Scripture. The media barely seemed to notice, other than to applaud him. But when George W. Bush mentioned Jesus as his favorite philosopher during the Republican presidential debates, the media backlash was fierce.
Concerning the media attack, Brent Bozell of Media Research Center says, ‘There are undertones of intolerance. This is the anti-Christian bias the media have.’” (CBN News. 8/15/2000.)

Campfire Song Banned
“The campfire favorite ‘Kum Ba Ya’ was too Christian for the North Port, Florida, Boys & Girls Club. Samantha Schultz, 8, had planned to sing the song at her daycamp’s talent show in August but organizers said her selection violated their ban on religious music. They said she could not perform her choice because the song repeats the phrase, ‘Oh, Lord’ several times.
Parents might complain if their children hear a religious song at camp, said Bill Sadlo, operations director for the nonsectarian camp. ‘We don’t want to take the chance of a child offending another child’s religion,’ he said. Randy Bouck, the local club’s director concurred, ‘We just can’t allow any religious songs. You have to check your religion at the door.’” (Current News Summary. 8/16/2000.)
Editorial Note: Because of phone calls, mail, and public outcry, the club has since reversed its decision and permitted Samantha to sing her song.

No Gays, No Bible Club
“California’s State Board of Education is facing criticism over new regulations on Bible clubs. The Pacific Justice Institute says the new regulations are discriminatory and unconstitutional.
The new amendments to the California Code of Regulations would require all student clubs in schools, including Bible clubs, to extend membership to students regardless of their sexual orientation or religion. Brad Dacus, President of the Pacific Justice Institute, says the regulations would only lead to more government control of school clubs.
The attorney says the new regulations would make it possible for radical activists to take over Christian clubs. ‘This is very serious. We see it as state-sanctioned intolerance, for which factions will be able to engage in at the expense of religious freedom and the rights of expressive association of religious students,’ said Dacus.” (American Family Association News Alert. 8/16/2000.)

Keep Christians Out of Parks!
During a span of seven days, members of the RJL Church-State Law Group have caused, first, the Douglas County Sheriff, then the U.S. Census Bureau, and now, the U.S. Forest Service to accommodate the free exercise of religion.
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has a ministry in Woodland Park, Col. Called Lutheran Valley Retreat (LVR). LVR has a mountain camp where it hosts religious retreats. Under a special use permit with the U.S. Forest Service it also takes “retreatants” on backpacking and horse packing trips into the U.S. Forest Service land. The small print of the permit required LVR, as a licensee, to promise not to discriminate in its hiring classifications, including religion.
This obviously would not do because a Lutheran ministry has many legitimate reasons to discriminate based upon religion in both its hiring and its delivery of services. What makes this situation unusual is that the Forest Service was merely entering a contract with LVR, and many believe that the government, when contracting with a religious institution, must require that religious institution to follow the identical rules that a secular contracting party would follow.
Not so, argued Nathan Adams, who invoked the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the recent Boy Scouts v. Dale decision that finely articulates the right of expressive association for values-inculcating organizations, and the parochial line of cases.
After working his way up through the Forest Service bureaucracy, Nate convinced their Washington, D.C. attorneys not only to allow LVR to drop the offending provisions, but to change U.S. Forest Service contracts for religious organization nationally. (Report emailed to Tom Pedigo, AFA of CO State Director. 8/30/2000.)

Quote – Cleaning Out Christianity
“We began this century as a Christian nation. As we approach the end of the century we are witnessing a cleaning out of what’s left of Christianity: expressions of the Christian religion are being stuffed into the closets once reserved for perverts. For in an anti-Christian culture, we Christians are the new perverts.” (Editorial. www.MessiahNYC.org)

Abolishing Jesus
“When you abolish Jesus Christ and the Bible from not only the classroom but also a two-minute time slot before high school football games, you are not practicing religious neutrality. You are substituting a new religion for an old one. When classroom instruction is anchored in Darwinian evolution, state socialism, and a passionate amorality, you are looking at a New Established Religion – secular humanism. There is no religious neutrality in this, and there never could be. Secular humanism has supplanted orthodox Christianity as the unofficially established religion of the United States. Government schools are the chief hotbed of this new religion. It is relentlessly anti-Christian. Christian parents who turn their precious children over to vigorously anti-Christian religionists are not only sinful; they are foolish.” (P. Andrew Sandlin. Taken from The Federalist. 8/22/2000.)

Commandments Barred
“A federal judge recently blocked Kentucky’s General Assembly’s effort to erect a monument bearing the Ten Commandments on the Capitol lawn, saying the measure appeared to be an endorsement of religion.
U.S. District Judge Joseph Hood sided with ACLU lawyers who argued that the monument would violate the U.S. Constitution, which requires government to be neutral on the subject of religion.
The state, by contrast, argued that the monument does not endorse religion. Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Carrico told Hood that the display is intended to highlight the Ten Commandments’ historical importance on law and that objective people would see it as such.” (The Courier-Journal. Frankfort, KY. 7/26/2000.)

Evolving Supreme Court
“Decrying that the Supreme Court has allowed a federal appeals court to further promote ‘the secular legend’ of the Scopes Monkey Trial, Associate Justice Antonin Scalia criticized the high court’s June 19 rejection of an appeal by a Louisiana school board over its policy requiring teachers to read a disclaimer before teaching evolution to their students.
By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court decided not to review the appeal by the Tangipahoa Parish Board of Education concerning its 1994 policy requiring public school teachers to tell their students the lesson on the ‘scientific theory of evolution…was not intended to influence or dissuade the Biblical version of creation.’ Several parents of children in the school district sued, arguing that the disclaimer violated the so-called ‘wall of separation’ between church and state.” (Maranatha Christian Journal. 6/2//2000.)

Religious Hocus-Pocus
“To the extent any Establishment Clause principles can be discerned from the Supreme Court’s rulings on the matter, the court’s position seems to be that invocations of the G-word can be permitted only around responsible adults who couldn’t possibly swallow that religious hocus-pocus. Congress can begin sessions with a prayer, Congress can have a paid man of the cloth on its payroll, and the nation’s coins may proclaim ‘In God We Trust.’ Even the Supreme Court can still begin sessions with ‘God bless this court’ – since that has clearly had no effect, anyway. But all religious references must be kept away from impressionable children!” (Ann Coulter. Quoted in The Federalist. 7/24/2000.)

Silent Moments Jeoparized?
“The Supreme Court ruling in the Texas school prayer case could fuel challenges to laws providing for moments of silence in public schools, including a measure in Virginia that takes effect this fall, lawyers and advocates said.
Steven R. Shapiro, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said the ruling ‘makes moments of silence more vulnerable to legal challenge if they are motivated by a desire to promote prayer, regardless of the language of the policy.’
Kent Willis, director of the ACLU’s Virginia chapter, said the ruling strengthens arguments that the separation of church and state must be strictly enforced, and could help efforts to overturn the Virginia law. (Washington Post. 6/20/2000.)

Judicial Activism
“The Supreme Court first banned religious activities or expression which the government directs, went on to ban those activities or expression in which the government participates, and now has banned activities or expression which the government merely allows. If judges can make up the Constitution, then judges run the country. If judges make up the Constitution, then we have only the rights they grant us. If judges make up the Constitution, we have no freedom.” (Thomas L. Jipping. Taken from The Federalist. 7/19/2000.)

Wrong-headed Court
“The United States has never been more affluent, in terms of material wealth and creature comforts, or more impoverished in terms of spiritual well-being. We have seen the Supreme Court rule, again and again, against allowing volunteer prayer in public school…this ingrained predisposition against expressions of religious or spiritual beliefs is wrong-headed, destructive and completely contrary to the intent of the Founders of this great nation.”
(Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia. Senator Byrd described America as a “hollow” nation and called upon both the Republican and Democratic parties to adopt language in their platforms advocating an amendment to the Constitution allowing volunteer prayer in public schools, as he believes the Framers intended.)

Keep Faith Out of Medicine
“Doctors have been warned against providing spiritual treatment for their patients. Prescribing church attendance or offering prayer are out of line and not supported by hard evidence, a group of medical researchers and chaplains says.
Writing in the prestigious ‘New England Journal of Medicine’ today, the authors say they are worried by the ‘uncritical embrace’ of including faith in health care – a trend marked by books and studies claiming a link between religion and wellness, and a growing number of medical schools offering courses on the topic.
The result of marrying faith and medicine is poor health care and impoverished religion, they argue. Their alarm is sounded as media attention on the professed health benefits of religion has reached an all-time high.” (Charisma News Service. 6/22/2000.)