—The
Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that the state's annual Day of Prayer
proclamations violated the state constitution.
—Officials
in Buhler, Kan., are removing a cross from the city's seal, which was placed on
it four decades ago to represent the city's founders, who were immigrants
fleeing religious persecution.
—The
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled that crosses placed on Utah
roadsides to honor fallen state troopers violated the establishment clause of
the First Amendment.
—A
three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled that a
cross displayed as part of the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego was
unconstitutional.
—The
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled that a North Carolina board of
commissioners' prayer policy was unconstitutional because the prayers mentioned
Jesus too frequently.
—The
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled that a Florida city
commission's practice of offering an invocation at the beginning of each
meeting was unconstitutional.
—For
decades, the Sussex County Council in Delaware had opened meetings with the
Lord's Prayer, but after a yearlong court battle challenging the practice, the
council agreed to replace it with a recitation of Psalm 23.
—Other
lawsuits by activist groups targeting the tradition of city and county council
prayer are sweeping the nation. Here are a few more recent headlines. In North
Carolina: "Prayer in public meetings debated in Greenville"
(journalists Kristen Hunter and Jonathan Rodriguez). In New Jersey: "New
Invocation Policy Includes Indemnification Waiver for All Council Members"
(GallowayTwpNews.com). In California: "Rialto City Council defends public
prayers before meetings" (The Sun). In Michigan: "Prayer at Oakland
Twp. meeting draws ACLU's attention" (The Associated Press). In Georgia:
"Cave Spring rethinking Lord's Prayer issue" (Rome News-Tribune). In
Washington: "'Christ' ban signals apparent end to Longview council meeting
invocation" (The Daily News).
—Officials
at the Department of Health and Human Services denied funding for the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops' successful program for sex trafficking
victims because of the church's teaching on human life.
—In the
wake of Hurricane Sandy, many New York synagogues and other houses of worship
discovered that they were ineligible for financial assistance from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency.
—Presidential
administration officials refused to intervene in the closing of the U.S.
Commission on International Religious Freedom.
—Walter
Reed National Military Medical Center drafted a policy that prohibited
individuals from using or distributing religious items during visits to the
hospital.
—Retired
Army Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin, a Delta Force war hero, couldn't speak at West
Point because of his Christian faith.
—The Air
Force Academy apologized for merely announcing Operation Christmas Child — a
Christian-based charity and relief program designed to send Christmas gifts to
impoverished children around the world.
—The
Marine Corps considered tearing down a Camp Pendleton cross meant to honor
fallen heroes.
—The
Navy relocated a live Nativity scene at a base in Bahrain to the chapel area.
—Air
Force officials suspended a 20-year-old course on war theory because of its
religious aspects.
—Yet, as
reported in the Los Angeles Times in November 2011, the Air Force is building
"an $80,000 Stonehenge-like worship center" for followers of
"Earth-based" religions, including "pagans, Wiccans, druids,
witches and followers of Native American faiths."
—The
Department of Veterans Affairs censored references to God and Jesus during
prayers at Houston National Cemetery.
—The
Pentagon released new regulations forcing chaplains to perform same-sex
weddings despite their religious objections. However, members of the
Congressional Prayer Caucus worked tirelessly to ensure that the final version
of the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act included key religious freedom
protections for service members generally and chaplains specifically (Section
533).
—The
Pentagon revoked approval to use the logo of each service branch on the covers
of Bibles sold in military exchange stores.
What is
going on in the U.S. military? Apparently, the military's urge for neutrality
is officially and fundamentally transforming into hostility toward faith.
What is
so difficult for the feds to understand about the free exercise clause in the
First Amendment, which says they "shall make no law ... prohibiting the
free exercise" of religion?
Long
gone are the days when the commander in chief wrote the prologue to the Gideons
Bibles given to service members, encouraging them to find strength and courage
from the contents. That's what President Franklin D. Roosevelt did before the
start of World War II: "As Commander-in-Chief I take pleasure in
commending the reading of the Bible to all who serve in the armed forces of the
United States. Throughout the centuries men of many faiths and diverse origins
have found in the Sacred Book words of wisdom, counsel and inspiration. It is a
fountain of strength and now, as always, an aid in attaining the highest
aspirations of the human soul."
The only
fight left is for we the people to defend our First Amendment's freedom of
religion, not espouse or enable the freedom from religion. Start in your own
town, and take the battle all the way to Washington.
Pasted
from <http://newsbusters.org/blogs/chuck-norris/2013/04/02/chuck-norris-column-assault-religious-liberty>
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