Religions > Atheism > American Atheists legislative action alert - September 7, 2003
| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Larry Mundinger" |
| Date: |
07 Sep 2003 01:25:33 PM |
| Object: |
American Atheists legislative action alert - September 7, 2003 |
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AMERICAN ATHEISTS LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT
September 7, 2003
SPEAK OUT TO STOP
"TEN COMMANDMENTS BULLYING ACT"
Proposed bill would permit unconstitutional display of religious
monuments, remove First Amendment violations from judicial scrutiny!
Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt has introduced a so-called "Ten
Commandments Defense Act" (HR 2045) to promote the unconstitutional
display of the Decalogue and other sectarian religious monuments.
The bill is in response to recent federal court decisions which have
ruled that in many cases, presentation of the Commandments on
government property is illegal state promotion of religion. In
Alabama recently, defrocked State Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore lost
his bid to have a 5,280-lb. granite monument of the Decalogue
displayed prominently in the Judicial Building. Moore, like Aderholt,
believes that states have every right -- even a duty -- to promote
"the public acknowledgement of God."
The courts, and the First Amendment of our Constitution, say
otherwise.
Aderholt's bill disingenuously argues that that states have the right
to display the Ten Commandments and other religious symbols, mottoes
and monuments. It also declares that federal courts "shall exercise
.... judicial power in a manner consistent..." with his claims that
belief in and recognition of a deity is the basis of all federal and
state law, and that states may "recognize God as the source of the
blessings of liberty."
This legislation would effectively try to remove any litigation over
display of the Ten Commandments (and other religious slogans and
symbols) from the authority of the federal courts.
Visit the American Atheists ACTION page at
http://www.atheists.org/action for more on this proposal!
* Your letters, phone calls and faxes are needed now to stop "The Ten
Commandments Defense Act of 2003," HR 2045.
Get contact information for your congressional representative and
check out our TIPS ON CONTACTING CONGRESS. Visit
http://www.atheists.org/action
* Read the text of "The Ten Commandments Defense Act of 2003," HR
2045. (See the link at http://www.atheists.org/action)
* Send us copies of your letters to Congress and we will display them
on our Action Alert web site!
* We have several stories on our web site about the recent
controversy over the Ten Commandments.
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/alabam30.htm
("Alabama commandments monument is down -- but is it gone?" 9/6/03)
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/alabam29
("Moore suspended as confrontation looms over unconstitutional Ten
Commandments monument," 8/22/03)
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/alabam28.htm
("Time for Moore to roll that rock! Justices, AG says Commandments
monument must go!" 8/22/03
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/alabam27.htm
("Braggadocio, Hyperbole as Commandments supporters rally behind
Moore in Montgomery," 8/19/03)
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/alabam26.htm
("Judge says commandments monument must go, will Moore comply?"
8/7/03)
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/tenco30.htm
("House attempt to circumvent Constitution, federal courts?
Lawmakers vote against
enforcement on Ten Commandments, Pledge decisions," 8-2-03)
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/tenco28.htm
("On to the Supreme Court? Moore announces appeal...," 7/4/03)
http://www.atheists.org/al
(Office of the Alabama State Director, American Atheists)
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/alabam20.htm
("Moore files appeal notice on removal order," 12/14/02)
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/alabam18.htm
("Moore in exclusive film deal with televangelist," 11/26/01)
http://www.atheists.org/church/tencommandments.html
("Rehnquist and the Ten Taboos," by Frank Zindler)
http://www.atheists.org/church/hangemall.htm
("Hang 'Em All -- Completely!" by Frank Zindler)
http://www.positiveatheism.org/crt/whichcom.htm
("Which Ten Commandments," by Cliff Walker)
http://www.americanatheist.org/column/ontar5-28-01.html
(Post The Commandments,Spare Not The Rod!" by Conrad F. Goeringer)
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/tenco29.htm
("Darby speaks out on Moore press conference," 7/4/03)
http://www.atheists.org/flash.,line/tenco27.htm
("Circuit Court rules for 'aphorisms' as squabbles over religious
sloganeering, commandments continue," 8/2/02)
AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights
for nonbelievers; works for the total separation of church and state;
and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.
- --
Larry Mundinger (aa#451) American Atheists
Internet Representative <irep @ atheists.org>
<http://www.atheists.org/>
<http://www.americanatheist.org/>
<http://www.atheistviewpoint.tv/>
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| User: "quibbler" |
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| Title: Re: American Atheists legislative action alert - September 7, 2003 |
07 Sep 2003 08:12:16 PM |
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In article <bjft6u$ihs93$1@ID-184711.news.uni-berlin.de>,
look.below@signature.org says...
Aderholt's bill disingenuously argues that that states have the right
to display the Ten Commandments
If states have the right then why is the federal government making a law
telling the states that they have the right. In reality they are trying
to make a law telling the federal courts that they don't have a right to
regulate specific instances of establishment of religion, which of course
is unconstitutional.
and other religious symbols, mottoes
and monuments. It also declares that federal courts "shall exercise
... judicial power in a manner consistent..." with his claims that
belief in and recognition of a deity is the basis of all federal and
state law, and that states may "recognize God as the source of the
blessings of liberty."
This is pretty fucking insidious. It is very clear that the legislature
is attempting to undermine the checks and balances help by the judicial
branch. Hopefully, this time the judiciary will have the balls to rule
such attempt unconstitutional, if the law even gets that far.
This legislation would effectively try to remove any litigation over
display of the Ten Commandments (and other religious slogans and
symbols) from the authority of the federal courts.
Many state constitutions also forbid the establishment of religion.
Anyway, I hope that senators start lining up to filibuster this
ridiculous, illegal, theocratic bill.
--
_____________________________________________________
Quibbler (quibbler247atyahoo.com)
"It is fashionable to wax apocalyptic about the
threat to humanity posed by the AIDS virus, 'mad cow'
disease, and many others, but I think a case can be
made that faith is one of the world's great evils,
comparable to the smallpox virus but harder to
eradicate." -- Richard Dawkins
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