by Tina Grazier
Look in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and you will not find the words, separation of church and state anywhere. Still, the phrase has been used and abused in legal matters and the media for a very long time.
A story in SFGate, ACLU Sues City Over Jesus Painting by Michael Kunzelman, reports that the ACLU (and one offended citizen) is at it again:
The American Civil Liberties Union sued the city of Slidell on Tuesday for displaying a painting of Jesus in a courthouse lobby, saying it violates the constitutional separation of church and state. *** The ACLU sued after the Slidell City Court refused to voluntarily remove the picture and a message below it that reads: “To Know Peace, Obey These Laws.” The ACLU says the portrait an image of Jesus presenting the New Testament is a religious icon of the Eastern Orthodox branch of Christianity.
I guess it is if you happen to be a member of an Eastern Orthodox branch of Christiasnity. If not it might represent a fine work of art. And I suppose now that democrats are courting the Christian vote they have to qualify Christiannow only orthodix Christians are a BIG threat! Only orthodox Christian “art” is unacceptable:
“We did not file this lawsuit because the ACLU is anti-religion … We did file this lawsuit because we believe this display is clearly in violation of the law,” said Vincent Booth, president and acting executive director of the Louisiana ACLU chapter.
The suit was filed on behalf of an unidentified person who complained to the ACLU about the picture. Named as defendants were the city of Slidell, St. Tammany Parish and City Judge James Lamz. St. Tammany Parish is being sued because it partially funds the court, the ACLU said. *** On Saturday, Lamz said the picture would stay up unless a federal judge ordered it removed. He said he didn’t believe the portrait violates the Constitution, but the issue should be decided in federal court.
I wonder how much this will cost the community both in time and money because one person was offended and also, I thought progressives were all about majority rule. Clearly a majority of folks in St. Tamminy Parish dont mind having this particular piece of art, a painting of Jesus, in their courthouse lobby.
In any case I think we should hear from the founders…you know, those folks who did not include the words, “seperation of church and state” in the founding documents:
“It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ! For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” – Patrick Henry
“We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.” – James Madison, chief architect of the Constitution
“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.” – John Adams, Oct. 11, 1798 Address to the military
And here’s another indication of the “intent” of these men:
Be Thou present; O God of Wisdom, and direct the councils of this Honorable Assembly: enable them to settle all things on the best and surrest foundations: that the scene of blood may be speedily closed: that Order, Harmony and Peace may be effectually restored, and Truth, and Justice, Religion, and Piety prevail and flourish among the people. Preserve the health of their bodies and the vigor of their minds, shower down on them, and the millions they here represent, such temporal Blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world, and crown them with everlasting Glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ Thy Son and Our Savior. Amen The First Prayer in Congress – Held in Carpenters Hall – Philadelphia – September 7. 1774
Sounds positively subversive and dangerous doesn’t it? Especially when contrasted with, oh say, “wipe the infidels from the face of the planet.”
Good manners and intelligence, not to mention “tolerance” require that religious art continue to be a part of our social fabric and used to inspire moral decency and self-governance…even in court or our schools…even for secularists or athiests or petty little busy bodies should they choose to be so inspired. God bless America.