Freethought & Rationalism Archive

12-01-2002, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Twenty-two members of Congress and a public interest law firm have asked a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a California atheist that claims congressional chaplains are unconstitutional.

...

"Our country has a deep and cherished history of ensuring that prayer is available to members of Congress," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a public interest law firm specializing in constitutional law.

<a href="http://www.washtimes.com/national/20021201-23085244.htm" target="_blank">More</a>

[ December 01, 2002: Message edited by: atheist_in_foxhole ]

GaryP · 12-01-2002, 03:57 AM

Only 22! If it stays that way, maybe some progress has been made.

daria · 12-01-2002, 06:21 AM

"Our country has a deep and cherished history of ensuring that prayer is available to members of Congress,"

So, they don't know how to pray without a chaplain present or what?

oriecat · 12-01-2002, 09:07 AM

They can have all the chaplains they want and pray all they want too, just quit making me pay for it!

Janaya · 12-01-2002, 09:29 AM

Quote:

So, they don't know how to pray without a chaplain present or what?

It's not ostentatious enough. I mean if they pray quietly to themselves then who will know they prayed? What was it Jebus said about this? I am sure that every congressional office has a closet. Of course congressmen are notorious for other uses for their closets.

Shake · 12-01-2002, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by daria:
"Our country has a deep and cherished history of ensuring that prayer is available to members of Congress,"

It (prayer) should be as available to members of Congress as it is to public school students. They're free to do it so long as it isn't sanctioned or promoted by the school, or disrupts those who choose not to pray.

12-01-2002, 07:40 PM

These xian idiots make it seem like Newdow is trying to make it illegal for the members of Congress to pray. And sadly, the public seems to believe them.

[ December 01, 2002: Message edited by: atheist_in_foxhole ]

Krieger · 12-01-2002, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by atheist_in_foxhole:
And sadly, the public seems to believes them.

Not very surprising, the public already believed the claim that Newdow was trying to stop "innocent" school children from "patriotically" saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

Stephen Maturin · 12-02-2002, 05:43 AM

It was disappointing, though hardly suprising, to see Ohio senator and insurance industry lap dog George Voinovich among the list of amici.

Anyone who's interested can download Jay $ekulow's proposed motion to dismiss and supporting brief in PDF <a href="http://www.aclj.org/ussc/amicimot.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. There's nothing suprising or innovative in it, but this comment is more than a little amusing:

Quote:

Anyone can find a prooftext for a given proposition from the Supreme Court�s extensive Establishment Clause jurisprudence. An accurate understanding of the Court�s Establishment Clause cases, however, requires a more refined analysis.

This from Captain Prooftext himself. Try looking in the mirror when you say that, Jay. The hypocrisy is damn near palpable.

[ December 02, 2002: Message edited by: Stephen Maturin ]

Rusting Car Bumper · 12-02-2002, 06:16 AM

I am not particularly impressed with Newdow myself. Filing a bunch of lawsuits doesn't really do a whole lot and it simply makes matters worse when one has a poor media presence to go with it.

DC

12-01-2002, 07:40 PM	#7
atheist_in_foxhole Guest Posts: n/a	These xian idiots make it seem like Newdow is trying to make it illegal for the members of Congress to pray. And sadly, the public seems to believe them. [ December 01, 2002: Message edited by: atheist_in_foxhole ]</p>

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12-01-2002, 03:57 AM	#2
GaryP Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, OH Posts: 1,792	Only 22! If it stays that way, maybe some progress has been made.

12-01-2002, 06:21 AM	#3
daria Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: VA Posts: 146	"Our country has a deep and cherished history of ensuring that prayer is available to members of Congress," So, they don't know how to pray without a chaplain present or what?

12-01-2002, 09:07 AM	#4
oriecat Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Portland OR USA Posts: 1,098	They can have all the chaplains they want and pray all they want too, just quit making me pay for it!

12-02-2002, 06:16 AM	#10
Rusting Car Bumper Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: U.S. Posts: 4,171	I am not particularly impressed with Newdow myself. Filing a bunch of lawsuits doesn't really do a whole lot and it simply makes matters worse when one has a poor media presence to go with it. DC

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