For Immediate Release:
(Washington, DC – May 9, 2014) – In a disappointing ruling against religious equality and the rights of atheists and humanists, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today ruled against a humanist family in their challenge to the mandated recitation of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance used in public schools.
The lawsuit, filed by the American Humanist Association and the Massachusetts family in 2010, bypassed previously unsuccessful traditional First Amendment Establishment Clause arguments, instead making the case based on equal protection rights within the state constitution. The daily recitation in public school classrooms of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag—in the version that includes an affirmation that the nation is “under God”—violates state nondiscrimination law, attorneys for the plaintiffs argued.
Read more: http://americanhumanist.org/...
Oligarchy?
Clearly the next step is a Theocracy...
Earlier this week:
Video surfaced of Chief Justice Roy Moore of the Alabama Supreme Court speaking at the Pastor for Life Luncheon, which was sponsored by Pro-Life Mississippi, declaring that the First Amendment only applies to Christians.
Supreme Court Allows Sectarian Prayer to Open Town Board Sessions
New York Times - In a major decision on the role of religion in government, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that the Constitution allows town boards to start their sessions with sectarian prayers. The ruling, by a 5-to-4 vote, divided the court’s more conservative members from its liberal ones, and their combative opinions reflected very different views of the role of faith in public life, in contemporary society and in the founding of the Republic.
[...]
“No one can fairly read the prayers from Greece’s town meetings as anything other than explicitly Christian — constantly and exclusively so,” Justice Kagan wrote in her dissent in the case, Town of Greece v. Galloway, No. 12-696.
Moreover, she said, the clergy “put some residents to the unenviable choice of either pretending to pray like the majority or declining to join its communal activity, at the very moment of petitioning their elected leaders.”
In a concurrence with the majority opinion, Justice Alito called the dissent’s qualms “really quite niggling.”
That comment, Justice Kagan responded, “says all there is to say about the difference between our respective views.”
Hmmm. Niggling?
To niggle is to cause slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety.
They aren't worried at all. It seems all is going according to plan.
We have nearly lost the legislative and judicial branches to the theocratic government model.
If you're a believer, now would be a good time to pray. God help us all.