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Church vs. State: Two Case Studies
Well, the church vs. state argument is still alive and well, as demonstrated by these two cases.
First, in Connecticut, a federal judge has ordered that post offices run by churches and other religious organizations cannot promote religion within the confines of the post office.
The religious displays “put the church’s beliefs front and center, out for the public to see, endorsing the church’s form of Christianity and seeking outsiders to join the church in its mission,” U.S. District Court Judge Dominic J. Squatrito wrote in a decision handed down last week. The displays “violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.”
The case was brought by a Jewish war veteran and the Connecticut ACLU, who complained that the local post office — run by Sincerely Yours Inc., which is part of the Full Gospel Interdenominational Church — violated the vet’s First Amendment rights because the post office was full of Christian messages and symbols.
But, in another case in Ohio, a man who was arrested for trying to use a stolen credit card at a drugstore was freed. When Eric Hine appeared in court, his lawyer told the judge that his bond should be set low because Hine was an avid churchgoer. The judge, skeptical of Hines’ religiosity, asked him to recite the 23rd Psalm. He did: all six verses.
The courtroom broke into applause and Hine was released on a $10,000 appearance bond (meaning he only has to pay it if he doesn’t show up).
Comments
Just as an aside, I had no idea post offices were run privately. Is this just common knowledge I somehow missed growing up?
Posted by Phaeolus | April 27, 2007 11:02 AM