Why does the ACLU not take a moderate view of religion, like the US constitution?

Question

The ACLU is usingthe police power of governemnt to force religion out of some aspects of society, by having certain historical religious symbols removed from public places. They also try to get prayer removed from schools.

Students have the right to pray unintrusively in school because their parents pay taxes as well.

Particular religion=Christianity

Answer 1

Organizations like the ACLU view religion as an intrusion on the ability of a secular society to make progress. They view people who are "people of faith" to be somehow inadequate and inferior to what they would call "rational, thinking people." And so they work hard to ensure that religion is relegated to a secondary status in the society in which they work.

Answer 2

The ACLU is not a government agency. The only "power" they have over the government is through court decisions. They do not have any opinion about religion or the private expression of it. They only work to get the government to obey the Constitution, which prohibits the establishment of a state-sponsored religion. Public funds and facilities are not to be used to express support for any religion. Religious presentations and activities are perfectly fine on private property, just not on tax-payer funded property. No matter how historical it is, a religious symbol is RELIGIOUS and its display on public property amounts to an endorsement of the creeds it represents. You don't mind if it's YOUR symbol, but if it was someone else's, you'd be screaming for the ACLU (and they would help you). You may think a state religion is a good idea, but not if it's not yours. There are dozens of "Christian" religions. What are the odds the state would pick yours?

If there were a case of the government PROHIBITING a religious display on PRIVATE property, such as a church or home, the ACLU would certainly consider the case but I suspect there would already be plenty of Christian lawyers to take it on.

The ACLU is only concerned with Constitutionally mandated Civil Liberties. They have no other agenda than to make sure the constitutional rights of minorities aren't trampled by majority opinion. They don't take the popular cases. They are the lawyers you go to when no one else is listening. Is that why you despise them?

Answer 3

Show me where the ACLU has tried to keep students from praying unintrusively in school. You won't be able to. You're just repeating false claims made by anti-American religious groups.

If you want to know the ACLU stand on religious expression, you might think about checking with...the ACLU. Take a look at the link below, and you'll quickly see that the religious right has simply been lying to you about the actions of the ACLU with respect to religious liberty.

Now, you might persist in denying reality in this area, but now that you have the truth right there in front of you, you will have to admit to yourself that the ACLU defends religious liberty. Honesty demands it.

Answer 4

Below is the misson statement of the ACLU as taken from their web site. They are not communist, nor do they seek to restrict personal expressions of beliefs. As far as prayer in school is concerned read the links below

The idea of removing prayer in school is that not all people belive in the same prayer (or in the case of Ms Murray-O'hara) even prayer at all. Her argument that the supreme court upheld was that as an athesist the idea that the public school supported the idea of a supreme being by having prayer was tantamount to endorsing the existence of God which was a violation of seperation.

The ACLU supports the idea of defending people's constitutional rights, up to and including the KKK and the American NAZI party among others. Before you judge them or simply mimic what others have said why don't you research them and decide for yourself.


ACLU Misson statement:

The American system of government is founded on two counterbalancing principles: that the majority of the people governs, through democratically elected representatives; and that the power even of a democratic majority must be limited, to ensure individual rights.

Majority power is limited by the Constitution's Bill of Rights, which consists of the original ten amendments ratified in 1791, plus the three post-Civil War amendments (the 13th, 14th and 15th) and the 19th Amendment (women's suffrage), adopted in 1920.

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.
We work also to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including Native Americans and other people of color; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people; women; mental-health patients; prisoners; people with disabilities; and the poor.

IF you have actually read the above paragraphs where is any of it communist?

Answer 5

I don't know of a single school that forbids students from praying over their lunches, or in between classes, or in the hallways, or before school athletic games. The ACLU is not taking that freedom away from ANYONE.

It's the schools and students that ask for "moments of silence/prayer" during school announcements, during class, during lunch, etc. that are asking ALL students to take time out of their class, meal, etc. to be quiet for others. That's ridiculous!!!!!! It's schools and students using classrooms and my tax-paid electricity, desks, etc. to hold bible-studies, and other church/religion backed programs.

I don't have any problem with students taking their own time out of their day when it doesn't affect my kids or any other non-religious kids, or using my tax dollars to fund it.

The ACLU is just reminding people that CHristianity isn't the only religion (otherwise, we would have to put religious symbols of ALL OTHER RELIGIONS by the cross in the cafeteria or courtroom), and that it has NO place in ANY shape or form in ANY government institution.

I doubt they will argue if a girl wants to thank her god for her sandwich in the cafeteria....as long as she doesn't make everyone else be quiet for a minute so she could pray in peace.

Answer 6

And the ACLU has defended the rights of Christian students to practice their religion in Constitutionally acceptable ways--including prayer--in schools, so what's your point?

Answer 7

Students are still allowed prayer in schools. They just do not force everyone into a prayer time.

I do not agree that religious figures should be removed, we should just find a way to incorporate them all. We should have a statue celebrating Islam there as well, and perhaps even Islamic laws posted on our courthouses. Perhaps at the same time we can make laws based from the Bible and Qu'ran.

One sec.. perhaps it is better just to separate church from state.

Answer 8

The ACLU formally supports unobtrusive prayer in schools. That is:

1. A student chooses to pray quietly to himself/herself during non-instructional time.
2. A group of students choose to pray quietly together during non instructional time.
3. A teacher may join such a group BUT may not assume any image of leadership while doing so.
4. A school can offer space for religious groups that are student lead and student operated, so long as they do so for all faiths that ask in an equitable manner (including potentially politically charged groups, such as if a group of students following the Church of Satan requests representation), during normal doors-open time (ie: before or after school, during lunch).

So why this big claim the ACLU or any non-christian is making an attack on Christianity or prayer in schools?

So, tell me something... if your child was attending a public school and you found out that a group of students who followed the teachings of the Church of Satan was meeting at your child's school before and after school, and not being led by a teacher though using school grounds during open door hours, would you honestly tell me you wouldn't object? If not, hey great, welcome to the Constitution.

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As far as the courts go... looking at the Judge, you see the ten commandments behind him as good. Alright, fine. From that same view point, please place, with letters in exactly the same size, the 11 Satanic Commandments, the 4 Noble Truths & 8-Fold Path, and the Wiccan Rede on the same wall, all at the same height, all at the same visibility, and I will yield the hanging of the 10 commandments. Or we can remove all of them, if you prefer. If you're agreeable to this, welcome to the Constitution.

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Otherwise, you're the one on the offensive and you're just playing the victim to gain sympathy.

Answer 9

I am a Christian and understand the need for the ACLU it is not the devil it is protecting the civil liberties of everyone which sometimes is unpopular because even those who disagree with you have rights.

Answer 10

The ACLU has a specific agenda, and if it were written out accurately, I think it would be ugly.
Notice that it battles Christianity in particular.
Furthermore, the ACLU and America is playing a dangerous game, telling us what we must not say, at least in public (like prayer). It's called political correctness. This country was founded on freedom of speech for very good reasons. Smash that freedom and you smash our liberty.