Judge: No religion at post office

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Judge: No religion at post office

By DAVE COLLINS, Associated Press Writer
Tue Apr 24, 11:12 PM ET

HARTFORD, Conn. - Religion has no place in post offices run by
churches and other private contractors, a federal judge has ruled,
citing the constitutional separation of church and state.

U.S. District Judge Dominic J. Squatrito, in a case involving a
church-run post office in Manchester, ordered the Postal Service
to notify the nearly 5,200 facilities run by contractors that they
cannot promote religion through pamphlets, displays or any other
materials.

He also told the agency to monitor those offices, which are
distinguishable from government-run facilities and employ workers
who are not Postal Service employees, to make sure they comply
with his ruling.

-snip-

"We're carefully reviewing the decision and considering our options,
including an appeal," said Gerry McKiernan, a Postal Service
spokesman at the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070425/ap_on_re_us/postal_church_1

[Kagemusha]

1. That's such a crass way to write the first paragraph...

Makes it sound like the judge is saying there's no place for people to have a religion or to be religious within a post office. That's quite different from using a public service as a platform for the advertising and promotion of religion. It is the latter which has been litigated.

[Debau2005]

2. oh my!

The postal lady in the town where my mother lives will NOT be happy. She hits you with her religion the moment you walk in the door. To bad, I no longer live there!

[LiberalFighter]

8. How does your mother feel about it?

[Debau2005]

13. She is irritated

at being hit in the face with it, but she is a regular Church goer, and would not say anything to "rock" the boat in the community.

[michaelwb]

3. No

Phfrrt!

How do expect my packages to get to me safely and on time without human sacrifice rites?

[PSPS]

4. The post office is considering an appeal?

I mean, what's the argument? "Your honor, we believe that post offices should be able to proselytize."

Oh, that's right. bush put a cleric in charge of ... everything!

[MissMillie]

5. churches run post offices?

non-government employees?

:wtf:

[DavidDvorkin]

6. Contract stations

They've been around for decades. They're usually small, located in stores (here in Denver, anyway), and open when the real post offices are closed.

[shenmue]

11. Oh those!

Thanks for jogging my memory.

[JVS]

7. The article crashed my browser, but perhaps they are talking...

about towns so small that there is no post-office.

[Megahurtz]

12. That's what Good 'Ol Privatization will do. n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

9. I support this ruling 150%!!

[Critters2]

14. Me too. It's obviously right on the law, and I can't believe the USPS

is considering an appeal.

[sutz12]

10. Religion has no place in post offices run by .......anybody.

What's next? Open all the mail to ensure that there is no porn in there? No Islamic 'propaganda?' Oh, wait....