THE ACLU PROTECTS ALL RELIGIONS (and yes, most definently Christianity)

The Christian Right is told that the ACLU is Anti-Christian and Pro-Satan. I believe that the root of this is, at least in part, due to the efforts of the ACLU to keep religion, which is this country is primarily Christian, out of the public schools.

The ACLU believes and fights for the strict separation of Church and State and anything that perserves the Bill of Rights. No religion in goverment, and no government in religion. To this end the ACLU has fought to preserve government from interfering from religion as well. Here is a list of most recent cases that ACLU has taken on to defend the religious rights of christians: The ACLU of New Jersey (2006) filed a friend-of-the-court brief asking a federal court to uphold an elementary school student's right to sing "Awesome God" in a voluntary, after-school talent show for which students selected their own material. http://www.aclu.org/%20religion/schools/25799prs20060605.html

The ACLU of Louisiana (2006) filed a lawsuit defending the free speech rights of a Christian who was protesting based on his religious beliefs. The man was chased away from the front of a Wal-Mart store where he was carrying a sign that read: "Christians: Wal-Mart Supports Gay Marriage and Gay Lifestyles. Don't Shop There." www.aclu.org/freespeech/protest/27266prs20061027.html

The ACLU of Rhode Island (2006) filed an appeal in federal court on behalf of an inmate who was barred from preaching during Christian religious services, as he had done for the past seven years under the supervision and support of prison clergy. The prisoner, Wesley Spratt, believes his preaching is a calling from God. Prison officials cited vague and unsubstantiated security reasons for imposing the preaching ban on Mr. Spratt. The ACLU argued that the ban violates the religious freedom guaranteed to Mr. Spratt under federal law. http://www.riaclu.org/20060111.html*

The ACLU of Georgia (2006) filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the Tabernacle Community Baptist Church charging that the city of East Point, Georgia violated a federal religious discrimination law when it denied the church a zoning permit needed to establish its house of worship. www.aclu.org/religion/discrim/25518prs20060419.html

There are of course, cases in which the ACLU has also helped Buddists, Muslims, Jews, and Wiccans (I can only think of one or two of those latter). The principal is the same, to freely allow person to exercise their believes within the law. (no underage marrigages, torture or murder, or use of illegal drugs, ect.). Clearly the ACLU does not favor any religion over any other but takes what cases comes its way that it violate the Bill of Rights. Since Christians are the clear majority of believers in the United States, minority religions are sometimes the ones with the most claims, but as illustrated above, not always.

Please recall that our representatives in government are supposed to represent all Americans, not just those of the Christian faith. Sometimes politicians need reminders such as this one last spring by Jamie Raskin, professor of law at American University, who testified before Congress. At the end of his testimony, Republican Senator Nancy Jacobs said: "Mr. Raskin, my Bible says marriage is only between a man and a woman. What do you have to say about that?"Raskin replied: "Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You did not place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible."

The room, by the way, errupted in applause.

The fear that you mention is that of religious state that endorses and promulgates a particular brand of religion. While to you, as member of the majority, it will appear to venial, to those that do not share your religious beliefs, it is oppressive and against their cherished beliefs (or disbeliefs). The separation between church and state has been severely threaten by the current administration and people of both sides of the aisle are alarmed by it. Again, please refer to the writings of our nation's founders as well as others in France, Spain and elsewhere who struggled against imposition of a State Religion.