Freedom

Library Bars Painting of Jesus

Library Bars Painting of Jesus
MERIDEN, Conn. -- Meriden Public Library officials have barred a local artist's painting of Jesus, prompting a debate about the separation of church and state and free speech. Library officials turned down five images of Jesus in a show arranged by artist Mary Morley. "When it came to anything with Jesus in it, they wouldn't allow it," she said. "I worked so hard on this." Library director Marcia Trotta and Victoria Navin, the library's community affairs director, would not comment to the Record-Journal, of Meriden, which reported the rejection of the images of Jesus. Deborah Moore, a staff lawyer for Meriden, cited the library's exhibits policy that calls for art to be appropriate for all ages. Appropriateness is "at the discretion of the library director," she said.

Federal judge: Man Can Sue City Over Ten Commandments
A Frederick man can sue the city over a monument of the Ten Commandments that sits on a parcel formerly owned by the city and visible from a public park, a federal judge has ruled. William D. Quarles Jr. of the U.S. District court in Baltimore refused to dismiss a lawsuit that says the 5-foot-tall, tablet-shaped monument violates the separation of church and state. The suit says that last year's sale of the monument in the Bentz Street Graveyard Memorial Ground to a private group was an attempt to evade legal liability while allowing the memorial to remain on "apparently public property."

Settlement Urged Over Monument
EVERETT — A national organization that is suing the city over a granite monument inscribed with the Ten Commandments is urging the city to settle the case out of court to avoid mounting legal costs. Joe Conn, a spokesman for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said the city's taxpayers may ultimately bear the burden of the lawsuit. Americans United is the group representing Jesse Card, a 20-year-old Everett resident who filed the suit. The lawsuit, in U.S. District Court in Seattle, seeks to have the monument deemed unconstitutional and seeks a permanent injunction forbidding its relocation to another public property. Card is seeking $1 in damages.

Christmas Trampled Into Hollow Holiday
ARLINGTON, Va. - I'm not sure it's worth keeping Christmas anymore. Oh, it is fine for those apparently dwindling numbers of us who still believe in the "original cast" of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the Wise Men and the animals. They, as any post-Thanksgiving (not to mention postmodern) shopper knows, have been replaced by the road show of reindeer, winter scenes, elves and the God substitute, Santa Claus, who serves as a front for merchants seeking to play on the guilt some parents bear for ignoring their kids the rest of the year.

Roy Moore Appeals Removal From Office
Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore will appeal his removal from office by tomorrow. Alabama's nine-member Court of the Judiciary voted unanimously to oust Moore Nov. 13 for defiance of a federal judge's order to remove a 10 Commandments monument he installed in the rotunda of the state courthouse two years ago. If the ruling stands, Gov. Bob Riley will appoint a new chief justice.

Judge Roy Moore
Latest on Ten Commandments Monument Battle

Harris Commission Supports Roy Moore
HAMILTON, Ga. - Harris County commissioners took a strong stand Tuesday night in supporting ousted Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore and spelled out their personal beliefs on acknowledging God in public places. Commissioners expressed support for Moore's "courageous stand for God to be acknowledged in the United States of America" and demanded that "the Federal Government re-establish the vanishing godly principles that recognize that our rights come from God and not from the government and that we are a nation under God."

Man Sentenced for Harassing Communications
A Baxter County man accused of harassing employees of The Baxter Bulletin and Gail House, an employee of First Federal Savings and Loan, pleaded no contest Tuesday in Baxter County District Court to a single misdemeanor charge of harassing communications. District Judge Van Gearhart entered a finding of guilty against Dr. Charles Treuter and sentenced Treuter to 90 days in jail with all but 10 days suspended. City Prosecutor Roger Morgan brought reams of papers to the hearing that were allegedly faxes and printed copies of e-mail authored by Treuter containing untrue, derogatory and profane statements directed at the victims or their employers. Morgan told the judge that Treuter's communications with The Bulletin had continued for more than seven years and had recently become increasingly personal and defamatory in content.

Catholic Diocese Challenges Sex-Abuse Law
A lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Springfield has become the first test case of a new state law extending the statute of limitations on sexual-abuse cases. The diocese challenged the constitutionality of the law during a hearing Tuesday in Sangamon County Circuit Court. Associate Judge Steven Nardulli did not rule on the issue. The case is being watched closely.

Ubiquitous Cameras Of Questionable Worth
Unfortunately, too many public school officials believe that cameras are needed to enforce order and discipline. This sad truth represents the kind of nation we are becoming and it is indeed a distressing commentary on our times. Is it surprising that a survey conducted last year by the non-profit organization Public Agenda discovered 79 percent of Americans believe that the lack of respect and courtesy represent a serious national problem?

Divided Court Hears Taxpayer-Funded Faith-Based Case
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court justices appeared deeply divided Tuesday in a church-state case involving a college student who lost his taxpayer-funded scholarship because he chose to major in theology. In a case with implications for President Bush's plan to allow more church-based organizations to compete for government money, the administration's top Supreme Court lawyer argued it was improper for Joshua Davey to lose the Promise Scholarship he was awarded by the state of Washington. The scholarship was rescinded after Davey declared his major because state officials deemed it an unconstitutional blending of church and state.

E-pill pushers
Possessing 30 OxyContin pills bought on a street corner in Daytona Beach could land you in jail for years. But why bother? You can get the same pills over the Internet -- cheaper, safer and without the inconvenient hassle of a felony prosecution. It seems too strange to be true. But it's not. The Internet is virtually flooded with ads promising potent drugs with no prior prescription.

Posted by Editor at December 3, 2003 09:16 AM