Bill aims to protect public prayer

[Charlie Brown]

http://www.aikenstandard.com/star/372151566008805.php

U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett has filed legislation that he says will protect elected and appointed officials who want to pray in public.

"All we're doing is trying to clarify what the Constitution of the United States says," Barrett said Thursday afternoon. "What the Constitution says is 'freedom of religion,' not 'freedom from religion.'"

The bill, called the Public Prayer Protection Act of 2005, states that public prayer by government officials "does not violate the Establishment Clause" of the Constitution. It also would give Congress the authority to define the jurisdiction of the federal courts on the prayer issue.

In part, the bill reads that "the Supreme Court shall not have jurisdiction to review, by appeal, writ of certiorari or otherwise, any matter that relates to the establishment of religion involving an entity of the Federal government or a State or local government." The legislation would place the same appellate restrictions on the federal District Courts.

Further, the bill would declare that any federal court decision made before or after the enactment of the law "is not binding precedent on the court of any State, the District of Columbia, or any commonwealth, territory or possession of the United States."

[DavidBowman]

1. Whoa

This part is a bit drastic, don't you think?

In part, the bill reads that "the Supreme Court shall not have jurisdiction to review, by appeal, writ of certiorari or otherwise, any matter that relates to the establishment of religion involving an entity of the Federal government or a State or local government."

[Sandpiper]

2. The Theocracy Act of 2005

Why be coy about the bill's title?

[msongs]

3. a sieg heil to him too.... nt

[Liberal Veteran]

4. Yeehaw! I can't wait to start my prayer to Satan in every public place!

:D

[Erika]

5. I'll pray in tongues at all my City Hall meetings

That should be fun.

[Bouncy Ball]

10. You guys laugh, but I'm not kidding, I would PAY to see that.

Hey if Christians have freedom of religion, then everyone else should too!

PALA MEEELA MEKA LEKA HIGH MEKA HINEY HO!

(SPeaking in tongues)

[Erika]

19. I'm serious. These theocrat nuts want to go wild

we can show them how its done.

They can't declare this Country a Xian nation, so we can all worship in public how we please.

Bouncy, You're eloquent. I bet you could come up with excellent prayers to the wisdom of the circle Gods.

This is fun. I almost hope the theonuts try it.

[Bouncy Ball]

20. I wish more people went around with shirts saying

"I'm an atheist."

I'm not kidding. And I'm officially only saying "Happy Holidays" from now on, because I know how much it pisses them the hell off.

Hell, my daughter already says "under the flying spaghetti monster" instead of "under God" when she says the pledge. Now OTHER KIDS are saying that, too. Don't tell, they'd come for us, put us in Gitmo! Ramen!

Thank you for your sweet compliment! The feeling is mutual, my dear!

Oh and hey, no matter WHAT you believe, ANYONE can play the "God told me..." or "Jesus told me..." game. Anyone. Just make up any old shit and say God told it to you. They've been doing it for years.

So when they say God told them this or that, contradict it with something God told YOU and add that, furthermore, God TOLD YOU they would say that and that a DEMON actually told them what they heard, NOT GOD.

I'm awful, aren't I? But it is so easy. They think they're persecuted? Nah, just toyed with and ridiculed because of their horribly thin skin and huge sense of indignation at imagined offenses.

[Erika]

22. under the flying spaghetti monster

Now that is cute!

[jobycom]

6. Hope it passes, so SCOTUS can nuke it. And for the record the Constitution

says neither "freedom of religion" or "freedom from religion." It says " Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

I've got no problem with a public official standing on a street corner or in a supermarket and praying publicly. It's his nickle. When that official prays as part of an official government function paid for by my tax dollars, he has made that government function establish his religion. And that's unconstitutional. The First Amendment absolutely does gaurantee me freedom FROM the religion of my government officials.

[Bluebear]

9. "so SCOTUS can nuke it".....perhaps? nt

[Initech]

11. In the days of "activist judges", I wouldnt be so sure...

Although the freeptards have yet to define exactly what an "activist judge" is... :eyes:

[jobycom]

14. I can't see even conservative activist judges approving a law which

limits the Supreme Court powers.

[Initech]

21. They wont, and I bet this law will get thrown out...

[Bouncy Ball]

7. Wait a second.

What part of the Constitution is he referring to when he interprets that there is no freedom FROM religion?

:scared:

Yikes. I mean, I'm a religious person myself, but I LIKE that I live in a country that SUPPOSEDLY has freedom OF religion and freedom FROM religion.

No freedom from religion means you CANNOT be without it. That's violating the very spirit OF freedom!!

[Deja Q]

8. Freedom from religion is a valid part of freedom of religion.

Sorry Gresham.

I respect you lot. The least you can do is be is civil for us.

[Massacure]

12. Haha, i love how they try to make themselves exempt from the SCOTUS

That is so unconstitutional. I can't wait for the SCOTUS to nuke it.

[Initech]

13. The Talibornagain Protection Act Of 2005

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[stepnw1f]

15. Total Religion without Spirituality

Once you step over the Seperation of Church and State, you step over THE line. Besides....

Spirituality doesn't need religion to exist. But religion does need spirituality to be considered legit...

only a false religion needs to challenge state or science. Fuck-off charlatans!

[mia]

16. hypocrite bill dishonors the followers of Christ

Matthew 6:5-6: "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men....when thou prayest, enter into thy closet and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret...."

[stepnw1f]

17. thank you!

How these people defile something so sacred to others is disgusting and immoral.

[drhilarius]

18. you beat me to it. nt