Secular Left Posts

June 25, 2012

Us Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Appeal In Mt Soledad Cross Case

image of the Mt Soledad Cross
San Diego’s Mt Soledad Cross

One bit of good news from the Supreme Court today was it refused to hear an appeal in Trunk v. City of San Diego which concerned the constitutionality of the San Diego’s Mt. Soledad Cross. By refusing to hear the appeal it let stand the 9th Circuit’s last ruling in the long fought 1st Amendment case which said the cross now on Federal land is still unconstitutional. Of course one justice took the unusual step to issue a statement and possible hint to pro-cross people on how to keep the cross on Mt. Soledad.

The 9th Circuit ruled in January of 2011:

Read the postUs Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Appeal In Mt Soledad Cross Case
June 13, 2012

Columbus Mayor Coleman Likes To Defy The Law

image of Michael B. Coleman - Mayor of Columbus Ohio
Michael B. Coleman – Mayor of Columbus Ohio

The mayor of Columbus, Ohio, Michael B. Coleman has been sponsoring and hosting an Interfaith Prayer Luncheon for the past 13 years and using city resources to sell tickets and promote it. Last week he got a letter from the Freedom of Religion Foundation letting him know that the luncheon violated the law. He decided to not to get a legal opinion from the city legal department but in his speech at the event he doubled down on violating the law.

Read the postColumbus Mayor Coleman Likes To Defy The Law
June 7, 2012

Ohio Senator Portman Wants To Force Prayer On World War II Memorial

inage of Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)

On June 6th, the 68th anniversary of the D-Day invasion during World War II, Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) spoke on the floor of the Senate to ask for passage of the World War II Memorial Prayer Act of 2012 which calls for a plaque, to be installed on the National World War II Memorial, inscribed with a prayer President Roosevelt spoke when announcing the operation over the radio in 1944. Although tax payer money won’t be used for the making of the plaque, it still will be on a national memorial on public land that is suppose to honor all soldiers who fought in the war. Portman’s bill is as misguided as someone putting the 10 Commandments up in a court house.

Here is the text of the bill that was introduced on May 10th:

Read the postOhio Senator Portman Wants To Force Prayer On World War II Memorial
May 30, 2012

In Defense Of City Council Meeting Prayers, Council President Says He Swore To God As Part Of His Office

screencap of Council President Bruce Hawkins

There is yet another dust up about a city council saying Christian prayers before meetings. Mount Vernon Ohio City Council previously held prayers at the beginning of their meetings then a resident sent a letter of complaint. Once the other people in town heard, then they complained about ending a “tradition”. Add to that mess is the comments the city council president made in a story on a local TV station – that he pledged an oath to God so he sees no problem with having the prayers during the meetings. He’s wrong of course.

Resident Ryan Kitko sent a letter of complaint to the council. He claimed – factually – that Christian prayers at the meeting slighted those who weren’t Christian or who had no religious beliefs.

Read the postIn Defense Of City Council Meeting Prayers, Council President Says He Swore To God As Part Of His Office
May 13, 2012

Day Of Prayer Proclamations Unconstitutional In Colorado

image of the scales of justice

A three-judge panel of the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled unanimously, on May 10th, that Day of Prayer proclamations by the Governor are unconstitutional. The court didn’t address the National Day of Prayer but the reasoning can be applied to that law: “A reasonable observer would conclude that these proclamations send the message that those who pray are favored members of Colorado’s political community, and that those who do not pray do not enjoy that favored status.”

The case was brought by the Freedom From Religion Foundation in 2008:

Read the postDay Of Prayer Proclamations Unconstitutional In Colorado
May 3, 2012

Secular Coalition hired a Republican as Executive Director? What????

image of Edwina Rogers - new Exec Dir Secular Coalition of America
Edwina Rogers – new Exec Dir Secular Coalition of America

On this National Day of Reason, it was announced that Edwina Rogers, whose previous experience is as a Republican DC lobbyist, who also had worked for President George W Bush and former Senator Trent Lott, was hired as the new Executive Director of Secular Coalition of America. Naturally I was a bit concerned but after reading some of what she had to say about her new job, I think she will be fine as long as she sticks to the SCA agenda.

Read the postSecular Coalition hired a Republican as Executive Director? What????