Ed Darrell wrote:
Isn't this a rather milquetoast resolution? Could we not make a case that voluntary prayer and creches on public property are already legal -- in fact, hasn't the ACLU been defending exactly those things in the past five years?One might wonder if these same legislators are among those who would refuse to sign a petition calling for the Bill of Rights -- or worse, if they'd go to the mat to slam Congress, the President, and activist judges, for not allowing such things as the Bill of Rights.I'd flunk these guys on their history; shouldn't someone tell them that what they ask is already the law?Ed Darrellis this much different from Reagan's [in]famous proclamation that ! we are Christian country? The resolution seems not to be any sort of law with impact -- just some hortatory language about how school-sponsored prayer and public-sponsored creches should be allowed.
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From: Winston Calvert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: Law & Religion issues for Law Academics <religionlaw@lists.ucla.edu>Subject: RE: Missouri declares Christianity its official religion. Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2006 11:39:35 -0800 (PST)
Here is the text of the resolution:
SECOND REGULAR SESSIONHouse Concurrent Resolution No. 1393RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY4572L.02I
Whereas, our forefathers of this great nation of theUnited States recognized a Christian God and used theprinciples afforded to us by Him as the foundingprinciples of our nation; and
Whereas, as citizens of this great nation, we themajority also wish to exercise our constitutionalright to acknowledge our Creator and give thanks forthe many gifts provided by Him; and
Whereas, as elected officials we should protect themajority's right to express their religious beliefswhile showing respect for those who object; and
Whereas, we wish to continue the wisdom imparted inthe Constitution of the United States of America bythe founding fathers; and
Whereas, we as elected officials recognize that aGreater Power exists above and beyond the institutionsof mankind:
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the members of theHouse of Representatives of the Ninety-third GeneralAssembly, Second Regular Session, the Senateconcurring therein, that we stand with the majority ofour constituents and exercise the common sense thatvoluntary prayer in public schools and religiousdisplays on public property ! are not a coalition ofchurch and state, but rather the justified recognitionof the positive role that Christianity has played inthis great nation of ours, the United States ofAmerica.
--Prof. Steven D. Jamar vox: 202-806-8017Howard University School of Law &nbs! p; fax: 202-806-84282900 Van Ness Street NW mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged, it is the skin of a living thought and may vary greatly in color and content according to the circumstances and the time in which it is used."
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes in Towne v. Eisner, 245 U.S. 418, 425 (1918)
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