Court Weighs Koran vs. Bible
This is why the ACLU has such a negative view by many. Does anyone think we should replace the Bible in court with the Koran? BTW what would atheists use if the ACLU wins?
Fox-RALEIGH, N.C. — If North Carolina is going to let people use a religious text when taking an oath in court, the Bible shouldn’t be the only book allowed, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union argued in court Tuesday.
A lawsuit filed by the ACLU of North Carolina challenges a state policy that allows only the Bible to be used in such court procedures.
“If the state is going to get into the religious oath business, the state has to be fair,” said Seth Cohen, the ACLU’s lead counsel on the case.
But an attorney from the state Attorney General’s Office urged Wake County Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway to dismiss the case.
“The main complaint of the ACLU and the plaintiff is a political one, not a legal one,” attorney Valerie Bateman said.
Filed in July 2005, the lawsuit argues that state law is unconstitutional because it favors Christianity over other religions. It names Syidah Mateen, a Muslim woman who said she was denied the use of the Koran in court.
The ACLU is seeking a court order clarifying that the law is broad enough to allow the use of multiple religious texts, or else rule the statute unconstitutional. The group expects Ridgeway will issue a ruling as early as next week.
This is what happens when you don’t have separation of church and state. Why would you want someone who is a not a Christian to swear on a bible anyway? Wouldn’t it just be giving them a license to lie?
How about just making everybody take an oath with no religious text? It would get rid of this kind of silliness.
Thank you Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson etal. for winning lawsuits that require the government to enforce religous policy.
caroline
Do we need to have every court carry what ever the person believes in paid for and stored by the court?
Nope, look what I said above. We could just have a generic oath that would cover everyone-religious or not religious.
Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Who would have a problem with that?
Has anyone on this blog ever checked out the leadership and money behind the ACLU? They are cutting their own throats (perhaps literally) as those that follow the Koran are not their friends at all! And yet the ACLU constantly attacks the Christians, who bend over backwards (at least the Evangelicals) to be their friends!
I have to agree with Caroline. When the oath was first introduced into the courts the majority of people were God fearing.
And leave it to the ACLU to champion Islam.A religion by example is void of civil rights.
We had a saying in the ole’ frat. DON’T F–K WITH TRADITION.
Not sure where the bible stands legally. But I would be curious if the ACLU has any sister chapters in the middle east.
First, for those of you who forgot:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
—Constitution of the United States of America, Article I
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Second,
What part of this discussion suggests that the Koran will “replace” the Bible?
After all, it isn’t as if there can be and must be only one book, right? Let’s not forget “Congress shall make NO law . . .”
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Mr Konop,
Call me a bit insensitive if you wish, but I have an extremely hard time believing that your ONLY objection to this case, or even your PRIMARY objection is the cost to the taxpayer of providing the religious text of preference when an oath is required by law.
In other words, would you mind getting back onto the subject at hand?
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Hugh,
Immediately after you posted one of your more outrageous comments here, I joined the ACLU.
So, some of my money is behind that old and honorable protector of the Constitution of the United States of America.
May I ask if your money is there, too, and if not, WHY NOT ?
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David
In China if you go to court are you going to demand too swear in with a Bible?
David O’Rear, re your post #8.
You stated “…ACLU…that old and honorable protector of the Constitution of the United States of America.”
Sorry, David, I won’t buy that thought for a second. For every good deed they do, and they are rare, the ACLU pushes 100 issues to UNDERMINE the Constitution. ps. The 100 is an estimate. Perhaps it’s 1000!
Hugh,
I usually don’t grab chunks of other websites and post them here, but this one is special:
The mission of the ACLU is to preserve all of these protections and guarantees:
· Your First Amendment rights-freedom of speech, association and assembly. Freedom of the press, and freedom of religion supported by the strict separation of church and state.
· Your right to equal protection under the law – equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin.
· Your right to due process – fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake.
· Your right to privacy – freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs.
[http://www.aclu.org/about/index.html]
Any of you who don’t support those principles, be sure to keep your wallet tightly shut. The rest of you, put up or shut up.
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Mr Konop,
“In China if you go to court are you going to demand too swear in with a Bible?”
Changing the subject again?
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David O’Rear, re your post #11:
You can’t be serious, can you? Your source is the ACLU web site. Of course they would say that, just as Bush and our Congress say they support the Constitution, etc!! Hello, David, open your eyes! Open your mind!
Hugh,
I think the posts here over the past several months are sufficient evidence that I am not the one with eyes and mind closed.
Speaking of eyes and mind closed I would say a good portion of the posters on this blog have their eyes wide shut!!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QKH2_Glsm7U