Tag Archives: separation of church and state

TEXAS: Police Department Lip Syncs “God’s Not Dead”

Hemant Mehta reports at The Friendly Atheist: In a bizarre and possibly unconstitutional promotion of religion, the Crandall Police Department in Texas just posted a Facebook video of officers lip-synching to the theme song from God’s Not Dead. It’s not just the lyrics of the song that are problematic. The camera shows the phrase “In God We Trust” on their …

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Federal Appeals Court: “In God We Trust” On Money Is A “Historical Reminder” Not A Religious Endorsement

The Associated Press reports: A federal court has ruled that printing “In God We Trust” on U.S. currency doesn’t amount to a religious endorsement and therefore doesn’t violate the U.S. Constitution. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago made the ruling Thursday in a lawsuit brought by a self-declared Satanist, Kenneth Mayle. He argued that the motto propagates …

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Bill Donohue Mocks House FreeThought Caucus Because There’s No Such Thing As Separation Of Church/State

Just in from Catholic League blowhard Bill Donohue: A congressional club for atheists? Yes, one was founded this week, but it did not get off to a roaring start: Of the 535 members of Congress, we can count on one hand how many members there are: four. There are probably more left-handed vegans on Capitol Hill than that. So who …

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Four Dem House Reps Launch Freethought Caucus To Promote Principle Of Separation Of Church And State

The Hill reports: Four Democratic congressmen on Monday launched a congressional caucus dedicated to fostering atheist and nonreligious beliefs. California Reps. Jared Huffman (D) and Jerry McNerney (D) joined forces with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) to launch the Congressional Freethought Caucus. The goals of the caucus include pushing “public policy formed on the basis of reason, …

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ALABAMA: Ten Commandments In Schools Measure Makes Ballot, Author Says It Might Stop Mass Shooters

The Associated Press reports: Two proposed constitutional amendments, passed by lawmakers during this year’s legislative session, will appear as referendums on the general-election ballot. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill threw his support behind them at a ceremonial bill-signing at the Alabama State Capitol on Friday. Republican Sen. Gerald Dial backed the amendment to authorize the display of the Ten …

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OKLAHOMA: GOP Gov. Mary Fallin Signs Bill Making 2010 Christian Hit State’s Official “Inspirational” Song

The Tulsa World reports: Gov. Mary Fallin signed a bill that makes MercyMe’s multi-platinum Christian song “I Can Only Imagine” the official state inspirational song of Oklahoma on Thursday. The recognition comes at a time when the movie of the same name — which was filmed in Oklahoma — is still in theaters as a box-office success, becoming the third-biggest …

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MISSISSIPPI: Dem Rep Intros Bill Requiring Teachers To Recite The Ten Commandments In Class Every Day

Bustle reports: On Tuesday, Democratic Mississippi Rep. Credell Calhoun introduced a bill that would impose strict religious requirements on teachers in the state’s public schools. Among other proposed rules, House Bill 1100 would mandate that Mississippi educators read the Ten Commandments every day in the first hour of class. In addition to reciting the Ten Commandments at the top of …

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Atheist Group Loses Bid To Give US House Invocation

Courthouse News reports: Congress has the right to hold a prayer at the start of each legislative day, and can reject an atheist’s request to give the invocation without violating the Establishment Clause, a federal judge ruled. U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer, a George W. Bush appointee, said Wednesday the House chaplain’s refusal to invite an avowed atheist to deliver …

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Liberty Counsel Demands Boston Fly “Christian” Flag

Via press release: Liberty Counsel has sent a demand letter to the City of Boston to approve a permit to raise the Christian flag on a Boston City Hall Plaza flagpole, next to the American flag, as part of a permitted cultural event sponsored by Camp Constitution. The event will celebrate the contributions of Christianity to American freedom and the …

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Satanic Temple: Probably Half Our Members Are LGBT

From a Vice profile on the Satanic Temple: There’s still ample confusion about what it means to be a Satanist. Given society’s long history of pegging Satan as the root of all evil, that’s fair—though it’s worth making some distinctions. Anton LaVey, a then 36-year-old American musician, founded the Church of Satan in 1966 with the mission of creating an …

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ALABAMA: Senate Approves Constitutional Amendment Allowing Ten Commandments Displays In Schools

AL.com reports: The Alabama Senate today passed a proposed constitutional amendment to allow Ten Commandments displays on state property and in public schools. The bill is by Sen. Gerald Dial, R-Lineville, who has proposed similar bills for years. It moves to the House of Representatives. If at least 63 of 105 House members approve it, it would go to voters …

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OKLAHOMA: State Senate Kills House-Approved Bill To Display Ten Commandments In Public Schools

The Oklahoman reports: A bill that could have allowed the Ten Commandments on government property was quietly pulled from consideration Thursday, severely hurting its chances to become law. House Bill 2177 was on the Senate agenda, but Floor Leader Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, announced that it wouldn’t be heard before moving on to other business. House bills must be heard …

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OKLAHOMA: State House Votes Overwhelmingly To Allow Posting Of Ten Commandments In Public Schools

Tulsa World reports: State representatives have voted to allow monuments to “historically significant documents” — primarily the Ten Commandments — to be displayed on public property. House Bill 2177, by Rep. John Bennett [photo] is offered as an antidote to a state Supreme Court decision that removed such a memorial from the Capitol grounds and a vote of the people …

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Atheist Mom Get Death Threats After School Forced To Remove Ten Commandments Monument [VIDEO]

The Associated Press reports: A Pennsylvania school district has agreed to remove a granite Ten Commandments monument from outside a high school and pay $164,000 in legal fees to settle a federal lawsuit. The Freedom From Religion Foundation said it received a signed settlement Tuesday from the New Kensington-Arnold School District saying it will relocate the 6-foot-high monolith from near …

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ZERO SEPARATION: Kentucky Governor Declares 2017 To Be “Year Of The Bible” Just Like He Did For 2016

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports: The “Year of the Bible” will apparently last 24 months in Kentucky. Gov. Matt Bevin has declared 2017 the “Year of the Bible” in Kentucky even though he proclaimed 2016 the “Year of the Bible” last December. Both proclamations pleased Pastor Mark Harrell of Victory Christian Fellowship church in Somerset, who said Wednesday that Bevin’s actions …

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Liberty Counsel Fake-Screams After Satanic Temple Announces Launch Of “After School Satan” Clubs

The Satanic Temple has once again gotten the goat of the right wing with its announcement of a national rollout of “After School Satan” clubs. From the Washington Post: The group plans to introduce its After School Satan Club to public elementary schools, including one in Prince George’s County, petitioning school officials to allow them to open immediately as the …

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FLORIDA: Christian Protesters Booted As Satanic Temple Prankster Gives City Council Invocation [VIDEO]

Pensacola’s ABC affiliate reports: A satanic prayer held at Pensacola city council meeting was disrupted by a crowd Thursday night. Police escorted people out of the meeting. “I saw community of people come together and take a stand for what was right,” explained Bruce Gullie. The invocation was delivered by a member of the Satanic Temple. Parishioners with the United …

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Pat Robertson: Satan Is Behind The Battle To Maintain The Separation Of Church And State [VIDEO]

But you knew that. Right Wing Watch recaps the response to the above viewer question: Robertson said that such groups exclusively target Christians because “they understand Christianity is where the power is — the power doesn’t exist in Islam, the power doesn’t exist in Baha’i or any of these fringe religions.” “They fight against Christianity because Christianity touches the souls …

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REASON RALLY: Atheists To Gather On Washington Mall

As they did in 2012, tens of thousands of atheists, skeptics, and secularists will rally on the Washington Mall on Saturday June 4th. From the Reason Rally website: The goal of Reason Rally 2016 is to showcase the presence and power of the nonreligious voting bloc, and to demand that reason be put at the forefront of our public and …

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INDIANA: State Trooper Sued (Again) For Grilling Motorist About Her Love For Jesus During Traffic Stop UPDATE: The Trooper Has Now Been Fired

And this is not the first he’s been sued for proselytizing during traffic stops. Via the Washington Post: Indiana State Police trooper Brian Hamilton pulled over Wendy Pyle in January, according to a lawsuit filed earlier this week. He told Pyle that she had been speeding, went back to his patrol car and returned with a warning ticket. Then, the …

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