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Supreme Court Accepts Challenge to Faith Based Office
The U.S. Supreme Court today agreed to decide whether taxpayers may challenge the Bush administration's use of general appropriations to promote its "faith-based" agenda.
In 2005, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that three Wisconsin taxpayers had legal standing to challenge President George W. Bush's creation of a White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and other promotion of his faith-based initiative.
The Bush administration asked the high court to overrule the decision, arguing that under current court precedent, taxpayers may only challenge congressional appropriations of funds if the money goes to religious organizations. The executive branch's use of general appropriations to set up its faith-based office and promote a faith-based agenda are not fit subjects for legal challenge, the administration argued.
AU Blasts House For Passage of "Public Expression of Religion Act"
The U.S. House of Representatives in full political mode approved a seriously flawed bill aimed at stopping citizens from challenging in court government-sponsored religious activities, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
In a largely partisan vote, the House passed the so-called “Public Expression of Religion Act,” which would make it much more difficult for those seeking to uphold the First Amendment principle of church-state separation.
The bill, H.R. 2679, would deny legal fees and out-of-pocket expenses to plaintiffs who win lawsuits under the Fist Amendment’s Establishment Clause, which bans the government from promoting religion. It passed by a vote of 244-173.
'Values Voter Summit' Supports GOP
A Religious Right-sponsored "Values Voter Summit" is nothing but an attempt to drum up evangelical support for Republican candidates before the November elections, charges Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
The supposedly non-partisan event, which takes place in Washington Sept. 22-24, is sponsored jointly by political affiliates of Focus on the Family (FOF), the Family Research Council (FRC) and other Religious Right groups. It features a line-up of GOP officeholders and presidential aspirants.
No Democrats appear among the announced speakers, and organizers such as FOF Chairman James Dobson and FRC President Tony Perkins don't seem to have spent much time getting any to come.
Refurbish Your Church —
with Tax Dollars
- Article from the July/August Issue of The Humanist by Rob BostonFEW PEOPLE WOULD dispute that Boston's Old North Church is a national treasure. In 1775, its steeple was used to signal Paul Revere that British troops were on the move, the famous "one if by land, two if by sea" code that is taught to every school child.
Although steeped in history, the Old North Church isn't a museum. It remains a functioning Episcopal church with a rector, congregation, and regular services. People worship there every week.
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