Religion in public politics

[Lamplighter]

Civil Rights vs Religious Freedom ? ... Of individuals vs organizations ?

The situations in this article present a timely debate of the
changing priorities and rights of individuals and organizations,
which I see as a direct consequence of the repeal of DADT.

NY Times
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: December 28, 2011

Bishops Say Rules on Gay Parents Limit Freedom of Religion

Roman Catholic bishops in Illinois have shuttered most
of the Catholic Charities affiliates in the state rather than comply
with a new requirement that says they must consider same-sex couples
as potential foster-care and adoptive parents if they want to receive state money.<snip>

The Illinois experience indicates that the bishops face formidable opponents
who also claim to have justice and the Constitution on their side.
They include not only gay rights advocates, but also many religious believers
and churches that support gay equality (some Catholic legislators among them).
They frame the issue as a matter of civil rights, saying that Catholic Charities
was using taxpayer money to discriminate against same-sex couples.<snip>

Critics of the church argue that no group has a constitutional right
to a government contract, especially if it refuses to provide required services.

But Anthony R. Picarello Jr., general counsel and associate general secretary
of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, disagreed.
“It’s true that the church doesn’t have a First Amendment right
to have a government contract,” he said, “but it does have a First Amendment right
not to be excluded from a contract based on its religious beliefs.”

The controversy in Illinois began when the state legislature voted in November 2010
to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples, which the state’s Catholic bishops lobbied against.

[Trilby]

The Nightmare Before Christmas!

Jack Skellington is the dying (then dead) King

Santa Claus is the King re-born!

Oak King and Holly King.

See? It all makes perfect sense.


This message brought to you by a graduate of a Catholic School.

[ZenGum]

Halloween. The great Australian tradition of closing your blinds at sunset and ignoring those three kids who watch so much TV they think we have it over here.

[Aliantha]

It's pretty big in my little town Zen. I had 40 little bags of lollies prepared and I had to make more, and it was only one bag per kid. We carved a pumpkin, and I made up a big tub of jelly baff and put the lollies in there so the kids had to get gooey if they wanted a treat. The big boys prepared a whole bucket full of water bombs which they distributed liberally to (on) all the teenage trick or treaters. All in all, it was pretty fun although it's better when it's on the weekend. It was much bigger the last two years.

[Trilby]

Wait.

What?

Halloween is a pretend holiday in Oz?

O.

M.

G.

Now I"m glad I didn't emigrate back in '88.

[Aliantha]

We wouldn't call it a holiday here anyway. It's just another day with some hijinx at the end of it.

We definitely don't get a day off for it.

[Clodfobble]

Yeah, Americans don't get a day off for it either. It's just an evening thing.

[Aliantha]

Over here we don't call days like that a 'holiday'. You guys call Valentines day a holiday too right?

We might refer to Christmas as 'The Christmas Holidays' or Easter as 'Easter Holidays' or official days off work we'd call a public holiday (such as Anzac Day, Australia Day etc), but we wouldn't just call it a holiday. We do call the breaks in the school year holidays though, even if you don't go anywhere. We don't use the word vacation to describe a trip somewhere. We say we're 'going on holiday', which might be during the school holidays or could be during term time, in which case, you get time off to take a holiday.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by Aliantha

You guys call Valentines day a holiday too right?

Yes. How would you refer to Valentine's Day?

[Aliantha]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Yes. How would you refer to Valentine's Day?

We just call it valentines day. Same as St Patricks day is just St Pat's Day. It only gets called a holiday if you get a day off, or an acknowledged day off anyway.

[wolf]

Guilty Husband/Boyfriend/Paramour Suck Up Day, isn't it?

[tw]

Hopefully, this Christmas, priests will not pray on students. We should ban prayer from schools.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by tw

Hopefully, this Christmas, priests will not pray on students. We should ban prayer from schools.

...and leave it to the football coaches eh? That's a state school down there, they shouldn't be praying on kids.

[monster]

Sorry to undrift a thread (I must be coming down with something), but we got this email from the school district superintendant this morning:

Dear AAPS Families and Community Members,



I was recently informed by the State Superintendent of Schools of a major change in the proposed anti-bullying legislation. The passage of State legislation regarding bullying (SB 137) had been anticipated as a tool to help enforce and protect students from any form of bullying in schools. Instead, recent language changes in the proposed legislation is turning it into a bill, and potentially a law, that would permit bullying a student if it is “a statement of a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction of a school employee, school volunteer, pupil, or a pupil’s parent or guardian.” This recent change in the legislative language by the Michigan Senate is disturbing and potentially dangerous. It clearly makes exceptions for bullying behavior based on religious beliefs or moral convictions.



I will be writing to Governor Snyder and the Legislature to voice my concern regarding this “exception” in the legislation and I encourage members of the community to let the Governor and legislators know your opinions on this legislation as well. I believe this new language can endanger students by justifying bullying behavior. It is my belief that bullying cannot be justified in schools and that intimidation and harassment of students are unacceptable. As Superintendent of Schools, I am alarmed to see the inclusion of this new language, which can be potentially harmful in allowing and/or justifying unacceptable behavior in a school setting. Please let the Governor and state legislators know your opinion of the language added to Senate Bill 137. Their addresses are attached for your convenience.



Sincerely,



Patricia P. Green



Patricia P. Green, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Ann Arbor Public Schools




Governor Rick Snyder

P.O. Box 30013

Lansing, Michigan 48909

(517) 335-7858 - Constituent Services

HYPERLINK "mailto:rick.snyder@michigan.gov"Rick.Snyder@michigan.gov





Representative Mark Ouimet

S-986 House Office Building

P.O. Box 30014

Lansing, Mi 48909-7514

(517)373-0828

HYPERLINK "mailto:markouimet@house.mi.gov" markouimet@house.mi.gov



Representative Jeff Irwin

S-987 House Office Building

P.O. Box 30014

Lansing, MI 48909-7514

(517) 373-5808

HYPERLINK "mailto:jeffirwin@house.mi.gov" jeffirwin@house.mi.gov



Senator Rebekah Warren

Lansing Office

P.O. Box 30036

Lansing, MI 48909-7536

(517) 373-2406

HYPERLINK "mailto:senwarren@senate.michigan.gov" senwarren@senate.michigan.gov

[SamIam]

You have written a letter, right? I hope EVERYONE in Michigan writes a letter. Hell, I'd write one myself except that I don't count.

Just for kicks, I checked on the WBC site to see what they're up to. For one thing, God is stepping up the number of people he's sending to hell. 311 this visit as compared to a mere 136 on my last visit. Go god, go!

WBC is targeting the Charlie Daniels Band next for singing (what else?) "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." I wish the devil would come up to Colorado and rid us of these people.