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the suffering
body of christ |
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STATE
BANS PRAYER IN CHRISTIAN INSTITUTION
New York:
The Illinois High School Association is being challenged
on a policy that bans Christian schools from offering a
prayer or any religious message over their public
address systems when
they host association events on their own property.
"It is blatantly unconstitutional for public school
officials to come into private schools and enforce a
policy prohibiting them from expressing what's central
to their religious beliefs," said David Cortman, senior
legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, or ADF.
The ADF wrote this week to association chief Marty
Hickman after several private schools complained about
the new restrictions. WND left a message with Hickman
seeking comment, but the call was not returned today.
"In enacting the policy, the IHSA was purportedly
concerned that allowing private host schools to conduct
customary pre-game prayers violated the First
Amendment's Establishment Clause," the letter said.
But the ADF reassured the association that the prayers
are constitutional. "To underscore this point, ADF makes
the following offer: should the IHSA choose to rescind
its new policy and go back to its neutral stance
regarding the messages broadcast by private host schools
over their public address systems, and a lawsuit is
subsequently filed against the IHSA alleging an
Establishment Clause violation, ADF would be willing to
defend the IHSA free of charge in that lawsuit," said
Cortman's letter.
However, if the policy is not rescinded, there also
could be complications, the letter said.
"There is a strong likelihood that the IHSA's new policy
violates the First Amendment rights of private Christian
schools that host IHSA state series events," the letter
said. "For this reason alone, and to avoid potentially
needless litigation and a subsequent award of attorneys'
fees, the IHSA should immediately rescind its new policy
and continue to allow private host schools to conduct
events as they have for years," Cortman said.
The ADF said the IHSA reportedly got "a few complaints
from people who didn't like the prayers and religious
announcements at the private schools," then came up with
the new rule that prohibits "all prayer or religious
messages" even at private and Christian schools.
The letter explained there would be no possibility of a
reasonable person thinking that a practice at an
individual private school somehow was IHSA's attempt to
establish religion.
"Directing where event attendees park their vehicles and
sit in the stands, choosing who gets to sing the
national anthem, promoting good sportsmanship and
civility amongst participants and fans, providing
concessions stands for food and refreshments and yes,
even what types of message are broadcast on the public
address system before, during, and after games these
things are all part of how a particular school hosts an
event conducted at its own facilities and on its own
property," the letter said.
"Only an unreasonable and uninformed observer would take
offense at a pregame prayer at a private school that
occurs as part of that school's customary procedures
with no oversight by the IHSA," it continued.
"In fact, what the IHSA should be concerned about under
these facts is not the appearance of impermissible
endorsement, but rather that a reasonable observer would
likely perceive hostility toward the religious speech
and practices of private host schools," Cortman wrote.
"You must keep in mind that Establishment Clause
jurisprudence requires neutrality and forbids hostility
toward religion."
Further, such bans on religious speech cannot be
supported legally, ADF said.
"Even though private schools have wellsettled
constitutional free speech rights to express their
religious mission and beliefs, the IHSA chooses to
discriminate against these schools on the basis of the
content and viewpoint of their speech by banning their
prayer and religious messages. This is clearly at odds
with established Supreme Court precedent," Cortman said. |
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CHRISTIANS
KILLED IN NIGERIA
Abuja: At least 11 people were killed, over
1,500 displaced, and dozens of homes and churches burned
during a weekend of violence in Bauchi state, Nigeria,
according to reports.
When a mosque was set on fire in the early hours of
February 21, Muslims blamed Christians and began
attacking believers and destroying their property.
However, local Christians believe the mosque's
destruction was the work of Muslim militants seeking a
pretext to attack Christians in retaliation for the loss
of Muslim lives in Jos.
According to local sources, some of the displaced
believers have taken shelter in military barracks and
are without sufficient food and water. Although a curfew
was imposed in the area, attacks continued for several
days and believers fear further violence. |
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PASTORS ARRESTED IN MADHYA PRADESH
Bhopal: Three pastors were arrested in
February, 2009 here for their alleged involvement in
selling a book offensive to Hindus at a January
conference in Anuppur district. Two individuals were
selling books entitled "Secularism and Hindutva" near
the site of the three-day prayer conference.
A group of Hindu militants purchased a copy, brought it
to the local police station and filed a complaint
against the conference's organizer, Pastor Paulose.
After explaining to police that he was unaware that the
books were being sold, Pastor Paulose was reprimanded
and released. However, on February 25 he was again
arrested. At last report he was denied bail and was
being held at the Chachai police station.
On February 19, two other pastors were arrested for
"deliberate and malicious acts to outrage religious
feelings" in connection with the complaint about the
book. At last report, one was being held at the Shadol
district jail while the other was freed on bail. |
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EGYPTIAN
CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY FIGHTING FOR RECOGNITION OF HIS
FAITH
Cairo: A
convert to Christianity from Islam, Maher Ahmad
ElMo’otahssem Bellah El-Gohary (56), is currently
involved in a legal battle to obtain identification
papers that recognize his Christian faith, according to
recent reports.
More than 20 Islamic lawyers attended a February 22,
2009 hearing where they advocated that El-Gohary be
convicted of apostasy and sentenced to death. The
lawyers submitted memos that allegedly asserted that
cases like El-Gohary's were part of a U.S. Zionist
attack on Islam in Egypt.
The documents also claimed that Christianity is inferior
to Islam and stated that Christians protect and defend
converts from Islam at their own peril. Fearing an
attack, El-Gohary did not attend the proceedings.
He had attempted to obtain papers authorizing his
attorney to act as his proxy representative in court but
when he went to the registry office to sign the papers
he was beaten by officials. El-Gohary has been attacked
several times during his legal battle and he and his
14-year-old daughter have received death threats. At
last report, he was in hiding.
El-Gohary's fight for legal recognition of his Christian
faith was sparked by his concern for his daughter, who
will be issued her national identity card in
approximately a year. Unless his documents are changed,
she will be subject to Islamic law, which would include
denying her the right to marry a Christian. At present,
she has to attend Islamic classes at school despite her
Christian faith. |
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This page is
updated on April 1, 2009 |
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PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY
10 YEARS CELEBRATION
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