A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) to remove a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of a Pennsylvania high school.
U.S. District Judge Terrence McVerry wrote the plaintiffs had “failed to establish that they were forced into ‘direct, regular, and unwelcome contact’ with the Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of Valley High School.”
The judge also said that the female plaintiffs in the case, Marie Schaub and her unidentified daughter, had developed their sense of “offense” to the monument “only after FFRF became involved in this dispute.”
The FFRF demanded the monument’s removal in March 2012 and sued that September when the school did not bow to their demand.
The court noted that the daughter in the case never actually attended that high school and that she testified in court when she saw the monument she didn’t pay much attention to it. The court also noted that while the mother claimed she pulled her daughter from the district to avoid the monument, the change happened after the lawsuit was filed.
“We’re pleased with the decision by the court,” New Kensington-Arnold School District Superintendent John Pallone said. “We’re glad to see this issue is hopefully behind us, and we can move on with our mission of educating children.”
An atheist organization is targeting a Christian sheriff in Lakeland, Florida for preaching at a church while wearing his uniform.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), who routinely targets Christians for harassment and lawsuits, is claiming they received complaints from anonymous residents about Sheriff Grady Judd speaking to churches while in uniform.
“I was invited to this church, as I am to many churches and secular events, and you know what, the message was clear,” Judd told BayNews9. “The message was uplifting. The message talked about and bragged on how wonderful our community was.”
The FFRF took issue with the appearance, claiming that by wearing his uniform Judd is endorsing Christianity.
“Promoting your personal religion using a Polk County government title and uniform gives the unfortunate impression that the county supports and endorses the First Baptist Church on the Mall and its religious teachings,” the letter read.
“Giving this sermon in your official capacity, wearing your official uniform, unabashedly promotes this church and its religious views,” it continued. “You are excluding the nearly 30% of U.S. adults and the 30% of Florida adults who are non-Christian. This message alienates both non-Christians and nonbelievers in Polk County by turning them into political outsiders in their own community.”
Judd said he will not be intimidated by the atheists.
“Let me say this clearly and unequivocally: When people call the sheriff’s office and ask me to come speak, I’m going to come speak, [and] I’m going to wear my uniform,” he told reporters. “You can guarantee it.”
A legal group has filed suit in federal court concerning a deal the IRS made with an anti-religious organization to monitor churches.
The Alliance Defending Freedom says the IRS has failed to honor a Freedom of Information act request regarding the details of an agreement between the group and the anti-religious Freedom From Religion Foundation.
“As of the date of this complaint, Defendant has failed to: (i) determine whether to comply with the request; (ii) notify Plaintiff of any such determination or the reasons therefor; (iii) advise Plaintiff of the right to appeal any adverse determination; and/or (iv) produce the requested records or otherwise demonstrate that the requested records are exempt from production,” reads the complaint.
“Plaintiff is being irreparably harmed by reason of Defendant’s unlawful withholding of records responsive to Plaintiffs’ FOIA request, and Plaintiff will continue to be irreparably harmed unless Defendant is compelled to conform its conduct to the requirements of the law.”
The anti-religious group demanded in 2012 that the IRS enforce their view of the Johnson Amendment which strips churches of tax exemptions if they are openly involved in political activity.
This is the second suit against the IRS over agreements related to “monitoring of churches and other tax exempt religious organizations.”
Presentations in a Tennessee school district from a character called “Bible Man” have been banned thanks to a complaint from a virulent anti-religion organization.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) made one of their usual claims that a parent they would not identify contacted them about the voluntary assemblies put on by Horace Turner as “Bible Man.” The assemblies, which have been going on for 40 years, are not required of any student.
“It is deeply troubling that the district allows these assemblies to take place. It is well settled that public schools may not advance or promote religion,” the letter, which pertained to a presentation at Coalmont Elementary School, stated. “Allowing anyone access to public school students to proselytize, and including the events in the school’s calendar, is illegal district endorsement of the speaker’s religious message, in this case a Christian message.”
The letter when on to say that the children need to be protected from “predators” like Turner.
The school wanted to make it clear that while the “Bible Man” presentations are banned, Turner himself is not banned from being at the schools or working with children.
“I believe the perception was that we’re trying to get rid of him, and that was not the perception we wanted to present,” Dr. Willie Childers stated. “We are trying to make sure that the procedures that we do are legal and constitutional for every citizen.”
The school is looking into starting after-school clubs where students can come and participate in events hosted by Turner.
The Satanic Temple along with the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) has announced they are suing an Indiana county that refused to allow a Satanic display during the month of December.
The lawsuit claims that a Franklin County ordinance that requires permits for displays and activities be restricted to county residents is a violation of the First Amendment.
“Our joint lawsuit with the FFRF is our response to this arbitrary limitation,” Satanist spokesman Doug Mesner said. “I suspect that the arbitrary restriction of local standing is merely but an effort at keeping varying viewpoints to a minimum.”
The Indianapolis Star says the American Civil Liberties Union filed the suit.
The Satanic Temple wanted to display “an artistic three-dimensional sculpture mounted on a wooden platform” between November and January and the FFRF wanted to display cut out figures marking the “December 15 nativity of the Bill of Rights.”
“FFRF wishes to erect this display on the courthouse lawn in order to highlight what it believes to be the paramount importance of the Bill of Rights and to otherwise express itself,” the lawsuit reads.
“Additionally, FFRF is aware that it has members who reside in the county and also has members that visit the county. It would also like to erect its display to support these persons and to make sure that their secular beliefs are adequately represented.”
The anti-Christian Freedom From Religion Foundation is suing another municipality to try and remove any trace of Christianity from any public area.
The FFRF sent a letter to Pinellas Park officials saying that the existence of the Bible on a podium inside the city council chamber means the city is endorsing Christianity over every other religion. According to Fox News, their letter cites court cases that resulted in the removal of Bibles from public facilities.
“Not only is the city council sending a message of endorsement for Christianity over other religions and nonreligion,” the letter says, “but display of this King James Bible sends a message of endorsement of one particular Christian sect over all others.”
Incoming city manager Doug Lewis says they are reviewing the FFRF’s most recent letter but they believe because the Bible was given to the city during the dedication of the building by the city’s Kiwanis Club, it’s part of the history of the building.
The hostile anti-Christian organization called the “Freedom From Religion Foundation” has forced a small Kansas town to change their logo because of a cross. Continue reading →
The anti-Christian organization Freedom from Religion Foundation threatened and intimidated the city of Steubenville, Ohio into removing a cross from the city’s logo. The group, dedicated to removing Christians from public life, told the city they would bring multiple lawsuits unless the city removed the logo on their own.
The logo contains shadow renditions of important locations within the city. The cross was part of a building connected to Franciscan University, one of the city’s biggest employers and most recognized city entities. Continue reading →
