Same with the ACLU!! An organization that use to be a good cause, now taken over by the far left.
You are right...when they decided to defend Rush Limbagh's privacy you knew they were wacky.
Then they spend Millions upon Milliions defend Christians?
What a horrible organization.
Recent ACLU Cases Defending the Constitutional Rights of Christians
Rhode Island ACLU (2006) filed an appeal in federal court on behalf of
an inmate who was barred from preaching during Christian religious
services, something he had done for the past seven years under the
supervision and support of prison clergy. The prisoner, Wesley Spratt,
believes his preaching is a calling from God. Prison officials cited
vague and unsubstantiated security reasons for imposing the preaching
ban on Mr. Spratt. The ACLU argued that the ban violates Mr. Spratt's
religious freedoms guaranteed to prisoners under federal law.
The ACLU of Nevada (2005) defended the free exercise rights and free
speech rights of evangelical Christians to preach on the sidewalks of
the Strip in Las Vegas .
The ACLU of New Mexico (2005) joined forces with the American Family
Association to succeed in freeing a preacher, Shawn Miller, from the
Roosevelt County jail, where he was held for 109 days for street
preaching. The ACLU became involved at the request of Miller's wife,
Theresa.
The ACLU of New Jersey (2005) filed a a motion to submit a
friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of Olivia Turton, a second-grade
student who was forbidden from singing 'Awesome God' in a voluntary,
after-school talent show. The only restriction on the student's
selection for the talent show was that it be 'G-rated.' The case, filed
in federal court, is Turton, et al. v. Frenchtown Elementary School , et al.
The ACLU of Michigan (2005) filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Joseph
Hanas, a Catholic, who was criminally punished for not completing a drug
rehabilitation program run by the Pentecostal group. Part of the
program required reading the Bible for seven hours a day, proclaiming
one's salvation at the alter, and being tested on Pentecostal
principles. Staff confiscated Mr. Hanas's rosary and told him
Catholicism was witchcraft.
The ACLU of Louisiana (2005) filed suit against the Department of
Corrections on behalf of a Mormon inmate, Norman Sanders, who was denied
the right to practice his religion by being denied access to religious
texts, including The Book of Mormon, and Mormon religious services.
'Mormons should receive the same accommodation of their beliefs as do
individuals of other faiths,' said Joe Cook, Executive Director, ACLU of
Louisiana. 'Fair and equal treatment means they deserve the right to a
place to meet, have a minister and discuss their beliefs like other groups.'
The ACLU of Pennsylvania (2005) won a battle against Turtle Creek
Borough that repeatedly denied an occupancy permit to a predominantly
African-American church, Ekklesia, which had purchased the church
building from a predominantly white parish. The case is Ekklesia Church
v. Borough of Turtle Creek. The case was settled.
The ACLU of Oregon (2004-05) filed suit on behalf of high school
basketball players from an Adventist school against the Oregon School
Activities Association, which administers competitive athletic and
artistic competitions in Oregon high schools. The ACLU argued that the
Adventist basketball players who have made it to the state tournament
should not be required to play tournament games on Saturday, their
Sabbath. The case, argued in Oregon courts, is Nakashima v. Board Of
Education.
The ACLU of Nevada (2004) represented a Mormon high school student, Kim
Jacobs, who school authorities suspended and then attempted to expel for
not complying with the school dress code and wearing T-shirts with
religious messages. Jacobs won a preliminary victory in court where the
judge ruled the school could not expel her for not complying with the
dress code. The First Amendment issue of student expression is before
the Ninth Circuit.
The ACLU of Washington (2004) reached a favorable settlement on behalf
of Donald Ausderau, a Christian minister, who wanted to preach to the
public on Plaza sidewalks.
The ACLU of Virginia (2004) interceded with local authorities on behalf
of Baptist preachers who were refused permission to perform baptisms in
the river in Falmouth Waterside Park in Stafford County .
The Indiana Civil Liberties Union (2004) filed suit against the city of
Scottsburg for their repeated threats of arrest and/or citation against
members of the Old Paths Baptist Church for demonstrating regarding
various subjects dealing with their religious beliefs.
With the help of the ACLU of Pennsylvania Greater Pittsburgh Chapter (2004), the Church Army, an Episcopal social service group, was able to keep its program of
feeding the homeless running. The ACLU convinced the County Health
Department to reverse a decision that meals served to homeless people in
a church must be cooked on the premises, as opposed to individual
homes. Had the decision not been reversed, the ministry would have been
forced to cease the program.
The ACLU of Pennsylvania (2004) was victorious in its arguments that
government had to accommodate Amish drivers who used highly reflective
gray tape on their buggies instead of orange triangles, to which the
Amish objected for religious reasons.
The ACLU of New Jersey (2004) appeared as amicus curaie in opposition to
a prosecutor's act of striking potential jurors from a jury pool based
on the fact that the prosecutor perceived those individuals to be
'demonstrative about their religion.' One potential juror was a
missionary; the other juror was wearing Muslim religious garb, including
a skull cap. The ACLU-NJ argued that such an action violates the
religion clauses of both the United States and New Jersey Constitutions.
It also argued that not only is it inappropriate for jurors to be struck
because they are demonstrable about their religion but, in addition,
such a basis will often amount to a removal based upon a particular
religious belief or affiliation and will lead to discrimination against
identifiable religious minorities. The case is State v. Fuller (NJ SCt
2004).
The ACLU of Pennsylvania (2004) settled a lawsuit on behalf of Second
Baptist Church of Homestead, a predominantly African-American church
that had been denied a zoning permit to operate in a church building
purchased by a white congregation. The occupancy permit was awarded in
2002, and in 2004, the Borough of West Mifflin agreed to pay damages and
compensate the church for its loses. The case is Second Baptist Church
of Homestead v. Borough of West Mifflin.
The ACLU of Massachusetts (2003) intervened on behalf of a group of
students at Westfield High School who were suspended for distributing
candy canes and a religious message in school. The ACLU succeeded in
having the suspensions revoked and filed an amicus brief in a lawsuit
brought on behalf of the students against the school district. Students
who were suspended include Daniel S. Souza, Stephen J. Grabowski, Sharon
L. Sitler and Paul Sitler.
The ACLU of Rhode Island (2003) interceded on behalf of an
interdenominational group of carolers who were denied the opportunity to
sing Christmas carols on Christmas Eve to inmates at the women's prison
in Cranston , Rhode Island .
The Iowa Civil Liberties Union (2002) publicly supported a group of
Christian students who filed a lawsuit against Davenport Schools
asserting their right to distribute religious literature during
non-instructional time. The ICLU filed a friend-of-the-court brief in
the suit on behalf of the students.
The ACLU of Massachusetts (2002) filed a brief supporting the right of
the Church of the Good News to run ads criticizing the secularization of
Christmas and promoting Christianity as the 'one true religion' after
the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority refused to allow the paid
advertisements to be posted and to sell additional advertising space to
the church.
The ACLU of Virginia (2002) joined the Rev. Jerry Falwell in winning a
lawsuit arguing the Virginia Constitution's provision that bans
religious organizations from incorporating is unconstitutional.
The ACLU of Michigan (beginning in 2001) represented Abby Moler, a
student at Sterling Heights Stevenson High School , whose yearbook entry
was deleted because of its religious content.
The ACLU of Massachusetts (2000) defended inmate Peter Kane's right to
exercise his religious beliefs when prison officials confiscated his
rosary beads. The rosary beads were black and white and prison rules
allow only solid-colored beads.
The ACLU of Virginia (2000) represented Charles D. Johnson, a street
preacher who was convicted under Richmond 's noise ordinance. The
Virginia Court of Appeals reversed his conviction in 2000. The case is
Johnson v. City of Richmond, 2000 WL 1459848 (Va. App. 2000).
The ACLU of Virginia (1999) filed suit against the Department of Defense
and the Office of Personnel Management on behalf of Michelle Hall, a
Jehovah's Witness who was fired from her job as a produce worker at Ft.
Belvoir commissary because she refused to sign a loyalty oath. Ms. Hall
objected to a phrase in the oath, that she would 'bear true faith and
allegiance to' the Constitution, because it contradicts her undivided
allegiance and faithfulness to Jehovah. The ACLU argued the oath
violated Ms. Hall's freedom of religion and speech rights. In a
settlement, Ms. Hall was reinstated and given back pay.
The ACLU of Eastern Missouri (1999) secured a favorable settlement for a
nurse, Miki M. Cain, who was fired for wearing a cross-shaped lapel pin
on her uniform.
The ACLU of Virginia (1997-1999) represented Rita Warren and her mission
to erect a crèche on Fairfax County government space that had been set
aside as a public forum. The ACLU argued restricting the use of the
public forum to county residents only was an unreasonable restriction.
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the ACLU.
The ACLU of Iowa (1997) represented Conservative Christians in Clarke
County and won the right to force a county referendum on gambling.
The ACLU of Pennsylvania Greater Pittsburgh Chapter (1997) represented
Carlyn Kline, a fundamentalist Christian woman who challenged the
legality of a mandatory divorce-counseling program conducted by Catholic
Charities. Her religious beliefs prohibited her from attending
'non-Christian' counseling.
The ACLU of Pennsylvania Greater Pittsburgh Chapter (1997) intervened on
behalf of a Mennonite nurse and prevented his firing for refusing to
shave his beard for religious reasons. The employer demanded the nurse
shave his beard so the state-issued mask to guard against tuberculosis
would fit tightly despite the employee's offer to purchase a more
expensive mask that would is approved for work with T.B. patients and
that would fit properly with his beard intact. After receiving
telephone calls and letters from the ACLU, the state employer agreed to
accommodate the nurse's religion.
Amish farmers benefited from the ACLU of Pennsylvania Greater Pittsburgh
Chapter's letter threatening a lawsuit if the Elk Lick Township rescind
a municipal ordinance that prohibited farm tractors with steel wheels
from traveling on or over the township's roads. Amish religious beliefs
dictate that they maintain steel wheels on their tractors and the
ordinance prevented Amish farmers from moving their tractors from one
farm to another, and in some cases from one part of their property to
another. The township rescinded the ordinance in 1995 and dropped all
charges against the various persons charged under the ordinance.
The ACLU of Pennsylvania Greater Pittsburgh Chapter (1995) represented a
17-year-old foster child who was being forced to attend her foster
family's church. The foster child was Methodist and the church she was
being forced to attend was not of the Methodist faith. After the ACLU
threatened to sue the county allowed the child to attend a Methodist
church and placed her in a different foster home.
The ACLU of Pennsylvania Greater Pittsburgh Chapter (1995) secured the
right of a minister from the United Methodist Church to hold meetings in
the Harmony Township Borough building that was open for use by community
groups.
Iowa affiliate of the ACLU (1995) represented and vindicated the free
speech and religious expression of a conservative Christian activist,
Elaine Jaquith of Waterloo , who had been denied access to broadcast her
message on public television.
The ACLU of Texas (beginning in1995) represented Catholic and Mormon
Santa Fe High School students who opposed the proselytizing prayers
offered by the school's student council chaplain over the public address
system prior to home football games. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed
that public schools should not be used to proselytize on behalf of
religion. Santa Fe Independent School Dist. v. Doe, 530 U.S. 290 (2000)
The ACLU of Vermont (1994-95) represented evangelical Christians Freda
and Perry Hollyer, who were denied Medicaid and food stamp benefits
because they refused to obtain social security numbers for their
children. The Hollyers believed that obtaining social security numbers
for their children ran contrary to their understanding of the Book of
Revelations. The ACLU appealed the denial to the state's Human Services
Board. The Board ruled in favor of the Hollyers holding that the
state's legitimate interests in preventing fraud could be achieved
without use of a social security number. The Board's ruling is on file
with the ACLU's Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief.
The ACLU of Utah (1990s) represented an evangelical Christian ministry
that had been evicted and denied future access as a vendor at a state
fair because fair-goers objected to the religious content of the message.
