Federal Court To Hear Arguments In Case Challenging City-Sponsored Prayer In Greece, N.Y.

Church-State Watchdog Group Urges New York Town To Respect Constitution And Religious Diversity

August 12, 2009


A federal court will hear oral arguments Thursday in a lawsuit challenging the use of sectarian invocations before meetings of the Greece, N.Y., Town Board.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed suit on behalf of two town residents last year. The residents say the near-unanimous use of sectarian prayers sends a message of exclusion to non-Christians.


“This case is a good reminder of why government needs to stay out of the prayer business,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Inevitably, some people are made to feel like second-class citizens.”
The Greece Town Board has a longstanding practice of inviting clergy to open the Board’s monthly meetings with a prayer. The Town Board does not require that the prayers be inclusive and non-sectarian. As a result, over the past decade, the vast majority of the prayers have been Christian.

Read the full press release

Haskell County Has to Fork it Over $$$$

County to pay ACLU legal fees
Tulsa World - Tulsa,OK,USA
Haskell County commissioners must pay the legal fees of the ACLU of Oklahoma in its lawsuit against a Ten Commandments monument in Stigler.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090814_12_A11_DENVER243855

or http://tinyurl.com/my2oa8

Two Roads to Religion and Civil Law

Moderator's note: Below is posted the remarks of Jim Huff, executive secretary of the Oklahoma City chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State (www.au.org) He and I attended the July Reclaim event in Edmond, and Mr. Huff attended the New Baptist Norman event. Decide for yourself which venue had a better representation of what it means to be religious, as well as supportive and understanding, of the necessity of maintaining a viable and meaningful separation of religion and civil law in the United States.

You can read my own summary of the Reclaim event at my own blog--
http://apollosbrain.blogspot.com/2009/07/did-you-feel-earth-move.html


FYI: Those of faith convictions and those of secular convictions.

I attended the JULY 24-25 "Reclaiming Oklahoma For Christ" conference at the
Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond and the AUGUST 7-8 "New Baptist
Covenant" in Norman Embassy Suites Hotel. Oklahoma is NECK DEEP IN THE
CULTURE WAR. The DIFFERENCES in Christian responses to the social,
healthcare, political and economic issues of today WERE STARK AND SERIOUS.

Rep. Sally Kern and (Independent Baptist)Pastor Paul Blair ARE PUSHING HARD
FOR THEIR BRAND OF RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL INTOLERANCE AND THEIR PERSONAL
POLTICAL-ECONOMIC POLICIES. "R.O.C" sees President Obama as the anti-Christ,
poverty as laziness, the congressional healthcare reforms as socialism, the
Bible as the answer to ALL of the economic needs of today. Their list of
important issues are: stop the "gay agenda", promote Fundamentalist
"creationism" in science classes, promote militarism in the name of
Christian values, oppose socialism, reduce taxes and use tax dollars for
religious ministries.

Those were not the multiple topics at the conference on "The New Baptist
Covenant." The sermons and speeches(J.C. Watts, Documentary Film-"Beneath
the Skin: Baptists and Racism", Wilford Brown (Native American, Pastor),
Ellis Orosco (Texas Pastor), Brad Henry, Jimmy Carter, Major Jemison (OKC
African American, Pastor), Wade Burleson (Oklahoma Pastor), were all focused
on: opposing racism, dealing with the health and daily needs of those
trapped in poverty, emphasis on the Biblical principles of "loving your
neighbor as yourself", emphasis on the Biblical responsibility to be
involved (there's work to do)in resolving the realities of cultural
injustices, defending the rights of all citizens BECAUSE IT IS BOTH
BIBILICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL. Religious tolerance is more than accepting
persons because you can't change them. Jesus' teachings and Christian
ethics involves respect for those having different views and values (both
faith related and secular related), and going the extra mile to protect all
persons from bigotry and violence.

The two different gatherings of professing believers in Jesus as the Messiah
WERE MILES APART IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF NEW TESTAMENT TEACHINGS ABOUT
CHRISTIAN PARTICPATION IN A SECULAR DEMOCRACY. The gathering in Norman was
by far the largest and the most ethnic and racially diverse. The gathering
in Edmond was the loudest and most flamboyant.

The booths at Norman were educational, informational, pro-persons. The
emphasis was personal religious or social convictions being put into action
outside of government. Learning how to live together with those who have
differing religious (Islam) or social views (the homosexual communities and
the abortion choice advocates). NO, not everyone there has reached the
place of religious and social tolerance. That was the point of the meeting.
Participants were not required to give up their personal convictions. The
attendees were encouraged to rethink the application of their convictions.
The separation of church and state was held up as a positive and valuable
socio-constitutional, Biblical value.


The speakers at "R.O.C." were focused on political electioneering
involvement(Janet Porter, Peter LaBarbera, Ret. Gen. Jerry Boykin and Dr.
John Morris). If you want more information on the issues of the speakers,
Google their names. The booths in Edmond were issue oriented, angry at large
segments of the social structure (public education, government at all
levels, Democratic Party political leaders, non-conservative political
leaders, government taxes at all levels.) The "R.O.C" agenda was angry at
being in the minority (kept referring to themselves as a remnant of the true
faith)and EMPHASISED GETTING INTO PARTISAN POLITICS TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR
GOALS. The concept of the separation of church and state was demeaned. The
participants were warned that they were not being faithful to their God if
they were not involved actively in the 2010 elections. And, that is why
candidates, Fallin, Brogdon, Calvey, Wesselhoft and others were introduced
as being supporters of the R.O.C. viewpoints.

At some point in the future, I'll set up meetings or conferences for the
general public to see and discuss the various "N.B.C." sermons, testimonies
and speeches. Being in a Republican Party dominated state is not the issue.
The issue is candidates that USE "CHRISTIAN" THEOLOGY AND BIBLICAL
PRINCIPLES AS THE BASIS FOR THEIR ELECTIONEERING. That's bad. The general
public needs to see and discuss those Christian theological and Biblical
principles of a large segment of Oklahoma's citizens THAT DIFFER from Rep.
Kern and Pastor Blair.

The differences must be examined and candidates and elected officials
informed.

Jim Huff

Exposed: ‘C Street’ and The Military

Exposed: ‘C Street’ and The Military
By Chris Rodda
The Public Record
Aug 10th, 2009

------------------------

Making the connections between the Family and the military is “a new front” — a front that is leading to new revelations about some old discoveries. For example, the participants in the Campus Crusade for Christ Christian Embassy Video — a video that led the Military Religious Freedom Foundation to demand an investigation by the Department of Defense Inspector General in which seven officers were found guilty of ethics violations — also included, in addition to the military officers, many other government officials and politicians.

One of the regular features in the monthly newsletter of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) is a section containing a “Violation on Video,” in which we show a video clip of a military regulation being violated by a service member or at a military event, and “Captured on Camera,” a photo of a violation being committed. The video and photo that we planned to feature in our August newsletter are typical — a video of a Marine officer appearing on a Christian television show in uniform, and a photo of an Army officer giving a briefing while standing in front of a Christian flag. What’s not typical about this month’s video and photo is how I happened to come across them. So, rather than just presenting this video and photo in our newsletter in the usual format, I decided to write about the bigger story that led me to find them.

Read complete story

Americans United Urges Supreme Court To Reject Scheme Designed To Keep Cross On Public Land

Church-State Watchdog Group Says Government-Sponsored Religious Symbols Are Bad For Adherents And Nonadherents Alike
August 4, 2009


Americans United for Separation of Church and State has urged the Supreme Court to overturn a congressional scheme to maintain a cross on public land in California, insisting that government should refrain from displaying sectarian symbols.
Americans United made the argument in a friend-of-the-court brief filed yesterday in Salazar v. Buono, a legal battle centering on the display of a cross at the Mojave National Preserve in California.


The case will come before the high court Oct. 7.
The cross at issue in the dispute was originally erected by the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1934 and has since been replaced several times by private citizens.


“The cross is a powerful symbol of the Christian faith,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “It does not represent all Americans. Arguing that the cross is ‘non-sectarian’ or that it is a generic symbol for all war dead is offensive to non-Christians and many Christians as well.”


Read the full press release at au.org

Americans United Urges Senate Armed Services Committee to Question McHugh On Religious Liberty Issues

Press Release

Nominee To Be Secretary Of The Army Has Poor Record On Church-State Issues, Says Watchdog Group

July 29, 2009


Americans United for Separation of Church and State today asked the Senate Armed Services Committee to question U.S. Rep. John M. McHugh about his views on religious liberty and the rights of religious minorities.

McHugh, who currently represents New York’s 23rd District in the House of Representatives, has been nominated by President Barack Obama to be the Secretary of the Army. His confirmation hearing is tomorrow.

Americans United says McHugh has a troubling record when it comes to separation of church and state.

Read the full press release at au.org

Americans United Commends Appellate Court Decision Against Bible Distribution In Mo. Public School

School-Sponsored Evangelism Is Wrong, Says AU’s Lynn
July 16, 2009

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today praised a federal appeals court decision barring Bible distribution in a Missouri public school district.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that the South Iron R-1 School District may not allow distribution of Bibles to children in elementary school.

Americans United, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case, hailed the ruling.

Read the full press release at au.org

No religious belief need be respected

Editor:

GOPer Oklahoma Rep. Sally Kern's recent "morality proclamation" consists solely of religious divisiveness. The First Amendment requires our government--local, state and federal--to make no law respecting religion. ( http://tinyurl.com/lmhn5p )

No religious belief need be respected if it is advocating that certain citizens who have broken no law must be separated from their civil rights. Just because the religion has a dogmatic disagreement with other people who are NOT members of that religion is no reason gays/lesbians must be subjected to religious opprobrium and denial of the benefits and privileges that hetero people enjoy only because of the accident of their birth.

James Nimmo, Oklahoma City

Americans United Urges Senate Judiciary Committee to Ascertain Sotomayor's Views on Church-State Separation

Supreme Court Nominee’s Religious Liberty Decisions Are Few, Watchdog Group’s Report Says

July 9, 2009


Americans United for Separation of Church and State today reiterated its call for the Senate Judiciary Committee to question Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on issues relating to religious liberty and church-state separation.
The committee is scheduled to begin hearings on Sotomayor on Monday. In advance of that, Americans United has released a report listing Sotomayor’s rulings on church-state issues.


“Sotomayor’s church-state rulings are few in number,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “We need more information, and we’re relying on the Judiciary Committee to get it.”


Read the full press release at au.org

next meeting of our AU Chapter -- Wednesday, July 8th at 7 PM

Greetings fellow supporters of church/state separation.

I hope all is well with you and that you survived 4th of July festivities.

I wanted to remind you that the next meeting of our AU Chapter is set for this coming Wednesday, July 8th at 7 PM. We will meet in the same place and at the same time as our last meeting. Downtown Library, Will Rogers room at 7 PM.

The major goal of this meeting will be to confirm people who are willing to serve in elected positions in our Chapter. We came a long way on this at our last meeting, but we still need to firm things up in preparation for our annual meeting, which is fast approaching on 9-11-09. I spoke with Damion the other day and he said he would serve as treasurer. This is great news!

I have included the minutes of our last meeting for your review. Please look them over and bring questions or changes with you to the meeting.
I have also included the agenda for this upcoming meeting.
Hope to see you on the 8th.
Mike


AGENDA FOR MEETING ON JULY 8TH, 2009
Call to Order-Mike
Minutes for approval or correction-Mike
Brief report on checking account balance-Jim Huff
Review the organization chart: positions filled and vacancies-Mike
Preliminary plans for the annual meeting.-Mike
Next meeting date-Mike
Adjourn-Mike





MINUTES

CHAPTER BOARD MEETING Downtown Library Tuesday, June 9, 2009

7:00pm Will Rogers Room

Six participants in attendance.

Officers present : Mike Fuller, Jim Huff

Activists present : Jeanette Schreiber, James Nimmo, David Wrenn, Nick Singer,

►Call to order. Mike, President

Proposed agenda adopted with no additions.

►Financial Report. Jim H.

►Annual meeting update. Mike

Friday, September 11, 2009, “Ryan’s Buffet” 6500 SW 3rd OKC (off I-40 between Rockwell and Macarthur.

Agenda for the meeting will be developed including the election of four officers.

►The organizational chart of the Chapter was discussed. In addition to the 4 elected officers, there are 3 key committee chairs and approximately 8 network contacts needed. A total of approximately 15 persons are needed to fill organization charts key positions.

►Of the elected positions: *Janette has agreed to accept the role of president, *Mike has agreed to continue as vice president, secretary is vacant, *The nominees will be presented to the membership at the Annual Meeting for election to their offices.

►Jim Nimmo is willing to chair the Communications Committee.

David Wrenn has agreed to be the CONTACT PERSON for the Peace Festival and Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education.

Those willing to take a leadership role in the committees, projects, and networking structures will be nominated by the president and voted on by the elected officers.

►Jeanette and Nick will work on possible names for filling the various vacant positions and present the names at the July Chapter Board Meeting.



►Next meeting:

7:00p Wednesday, July 8th – Downtown Library.

8:00 Adjourned



Jim Huff

Secretary.