Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Stephen Maturin · 07-29-2003, 09:19 AM

According to this article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania ruled yesterday that a 50x80-inch Ten Commandments plaque affixed to an outside wall of the Allegheny County (Pa.) Courthouse does not violate the Establisment Clause. Haven't been able to track down the opinion yet, but the article notes that the judge relied heavily on the recent Third Circuit ruling discussed here.

Rob Boston of AU's legal team said the ruling came as no surprise:

Quote:

Robert Boston of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Washington, D.C., organization that represented two local atheists in the Allegheny County case, said the group's legal team will examine the ruling and may appeal.

He said it wasn't unexpected in light of the Chester County case.

Rhaedas · 07-29-2003, 10:28 AM

Willing to bet it's more de minimus/ceremonial deism crap...which is a fancy legalese way of saying they don't want to touch the issue, in fear of the .backlash of the dominant theocracy in place.

In the discussion on the previous third circuit decision you linked to, I found even more :banghead: phrasing, that I think sums up the whole feeling in the courts every time these types of rulings are brought to them (key phrases highlighted):

Quote:

Thus, the reasonable observer, aware of the history of these invocations of God, views the religious language as tempered by the secular meaning that has emerged over the passage of time; the overall effect is that the reasonable person would not perceive in these phrases a government endorsement of religion (despite the clear use of the word �God�).

Or, in other words, that's the way it's always been for years now, so sit down and stop rocking the boat, non-christians. Just ignore it if it bothers you...

Maybe instead of trying to keep the specific 10C out, other beliefs should be encouraged to push their symbolisms in alongside the 10C...much as the Wiccans are trying (I forget where) to get their rituals held before a gov't meeting, since prayers are ruled "ceremonial deism". After we get several hundred types of statues, tablets, and markers filling the public area, or when a gov't opening prayer takes several hours because it has to address all beliefes, the message will get across one big reason WHY we have church-state separation. :banghead:

Worldtraveller · 07-29-2003, 11:14 PM

Well said Rhaedas,
All the references to reasonable persons that should not be offended as an excuse not to remove them is just thier way of telling all of us that we are unreasonable??

:banghead:

I thik maybe it's because actually reading and understanding the constitution has become unreasonable these days...:banghead:

I hope they appeal.

Cheers,
Lane

beejay · 07-30-2003, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Worldtraveler

I hope they appeal.

Cheers,
Lane [/B]

Your hopes are realized.

KYW story

Quote:

ACLU Appeals Ruling On 10 Commandments Plaque

Jul 30, 2003 11:33 am US/Eastern

The next volley in the battle over the Ten Commandments plaque in front of the Chester County Courthouse has been fired -
or filed - by the American Civil Liberties Union.

As expected, the organization has appealed last month's decision from a three-judge panel of the 3rd Circuit to the entire
court.

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07-29-2003, 11:14 PM	#3
Worldtraveller Banned Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 7,834	Well said Rhaedas, All the references to reasonable persons that should not be offended as an excuse not to remove them is just thier way of telling all of us that we are unreasonable?? :banghead: I thik maybe it's because actually reading and understanding the constitution has become unreasonable these days...:banghead: I hope they appeal. Cheers, Lane

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