Victories of ACLJ!
American Center for Law and
Justice
http://www.aclj.org/index.asp
Pledge of Allegiance
School children can continue to say "one nation under God"
when they quote the Pledge of Allegiance - thanks to a ruling by the
Supreme Court of the United States (on June 14, Flag Day!). The
Justices DISMISSED the case, doing away with a lower court's decision
that declared the phrase "under God" unconstitutional. With the
support of members all around the country, the ACLJ filed a major
brief in the case on behalf of 68 members of Congress and more than
260,300 Americans (including some 2,600 school-age children, many of
whom attend public schools and wanted to continue reciting the Pledge
intact).
By dismissing this case and eradicating the appeals court decision,
the Supreme Court of the United States REMOVED A DARK CLOUD that had
been hanging over one of the nation's most important and cherished
traditions: acknowledging via the Pledge of Allegiance that our
freedoms in this country come from God, not government. Thank you
again for your prayers and support in this important legal battle!
Ten Commandments
The U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City dismissed a lawsuit
challenging the public display of a monument of the Ten Commandments -
a monument that had been on display in Pleasant Grove, Utah, since the
early 1970s. The court agreed with the ACLJ about the historical
significance of this monument - and that the law is clear concerning
the display of the Ten Commandments: in short, that such a monument is
CONSTITUTIONAL. The ACLJ continues to be involved in more than a dozen
cases nationwide - defending the constitutional display of monuments
of the Ten Commandments in Nebraska, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and
Wisconsin.
ProLife Equality
We've settled the case of a county health department employee from
Illinois who filed a FEDERAL DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT claiming she was
denied a promotion because she expressed reluctance to participate in
any way in abortion counseling of health department clients. We argued
that this violated her rights of free speech and freedom of religion,
as well as her right to be free from religious discrimination under
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Illinois Health Care Right of
Conscience Act. In the settlement agreement, the county agreed to pay
the settlement of the claims (without admitting liability in the
case). Both parties agreed that the lawsuit would be DISMISSED.
School Testimony
With your help, the ACLJ succeeded in protecting the
constitutional rights of students in a Michigan case, where two high
school graduation speakers were asked to talk about friendship at
commencement exercises. In their speech, they wanted to mention that
the best example of friendship in their lives comes from Jesus Christ.
The speakers told the ACLJ a school official said that if they
mentioned the name of Jesus during the speech, they would be REMOVED
from the stage. The speakers contacted the ACLJ just two days before
graduation, and we immediately sent the principal a legal memorandum
outlining the law. The speakers were permitted to deliver their speech
as planned - including the mention of the name of Jesus - WITHOUT
CENSORSHIP.
Free Speech
In a second Michigan case, Marylou Statson of Davison wanted to place
a marker with the message "John 3:16" as part of a school
district's playground fundraising project, in which patrons could - in
exchange for a donation - place a paving stone inscribed with the
message of their choice in the playground. Statson contacted the ACLJ
when she was told that her message was unacceptable and that the
marker would not be placed in the playground. The ACLJ sent a demand
letter to the superintendent of schools outlining the legal issues and
the fact that denying Statson the opportunity to use that message
violated her First Amendment FREE SPEECH RIGHTS. The ACLJ letter said
that if the school district did not accept the inscription, a lawsuit
would be filed. The school district responded by reporting that the
marker with the inscription "John 3:16" would indeed be permitted.
CONTINUING CASES/ISSUES
More cases at ACLJ website:
http://www.aclj.org/cases_index.asp
Pray for Child Online Protection
The Justices handed down a disappointing decision that blocked the
implementation of the Child Online Protection Act (COPA), a measure
that would have protected America's youth from the most sordid
material on the World Wide Web. The high court declared COPA
unconstitutional and sent the case back to a lower court for trial. In
its major brief, the ACLJ represented itself and 13 members of
Congress and urged the high court to reverse the lower court's
decision. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY for this critical issue as it goes
back to a lower court and we continue our efforts.
Terrorists in Court
In one of three terrorism cases, the Supreme Court of the United
States ruled that the U.S. government has the power to hold American
citizens and foreign nationals without charges or trials - BUT that
detainees can challenge their treatment in U.S. courts. This troubling
ruling limits the President's role as commander-in-chief, gives
suspected terrorists access to U.S. courts, and allows American
civilian courts to become involved in military decisions. The ACLU had
filed major briefs in all three terrorism cases.
***
Please pray for ACLJ in their ongoing efforts to defend Christian
liberties
BACK TO BLESSEDCAUSE
HOME
