It seems that any time you hear the words "Civil Liberties" today it always pertains to Homosexuality and is against Christianity.
2007-09-27 11:39:11 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am a member of the US Military. I know about defending Americas freedoms.
2007-09-27 12:22:15 · update #1
Of course. On November 13, 2006, the ACLU of Louisiana won a court order allowing a man to stand in front of Wal-Mart holding a sign reading, "Christians: Wal-Mart Supports Gay Lifestyles And Marriage. Don't Shop There."
2004: Indiana Civil Liberties Union defends the rights of Baptist minister to preach his message on public streets:
http://www.iclu.org/news/news_article.asp?ID=97
2004: After ACLU intervention on behalf of Christian valedictorian, Michigan high school agrees to stop censoring religious yearbook entries:
http://www.aclu.org/StudentsRights/StudentsRights.cfm?ID=15680&c=159
2004: ACLU of Washington defends right of evangelical minister to preach on sidewalks: http://www.aclu-wa.org/Issues/freespeech/News-SpokTransit.html
2004: ACLU of Virginia threatens lawsuit and officials agree not to prohibit baptisms on public property in Falmouth Waterside Park in Stafford County:
2004: ACLU of Nevada supports free speech rights of evangelists to preach on the sidewalks of the Strip in Las Vegas:
2004: ACLU of Nebraska defends church facing eviction by the City of Lincoln:
2003: ACLU of Rhode Island supports rights of carolers to sing outside women's prison on Christmas Eve. Prison officials back down, agree to let the caroling take place.
2003: ACLU of Massachusetts defends students punished for distributing candy Canes with religious messages:
2002: ACLU of Pennsylvania files discrimination lawsuit over denial of zoning permit for African American Baptist church:
2002: ACLU of Massachusetts files brief supporting right of Church of the Good News to run ads criticizing the securalization of Christmas and promoting Christianity as the "one true religion" after the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Agency refuses to allow the ads on subways.
2002: ACLU of Iowa supports right of students to distribute Christian literature in public schools during non-instructional times. Files amicus brief in case for students barred from doing so in Davenport:
2002: ACLU helps Reverend Jerry Falwell win ruling that state of Virginia must allow churches to incorporate:
2002: ACLU defends Christian church's right to run "Anti-Santa" ads in Boston subways:
2001: ACLU of Utah negotiates settlement enabling evangelical Christian ministry to set up booth at state fair on same terms as other vendors. Group previously had been excluded from the fair because some patrons objected to content of their message.
2000: ACLU of Maryland supports Baltimore police officer suspended for wearing his hair in locks for religious reasons.
1999: The ACLU of Maryland assists the March for Life Committee in getting a permit for an anti-abortion march in Annapolis without having to pay a $5,400 fee the city was seeking. The ACLU worked with the American Center for Law & Justice to revise a proposed city ordinance so as to keep free speech free.
1999: ACLU of West Virginia files suit on behalf of a minister who declined, for religious reasons, to have his photograph taken for a driver license.
1998: ACLU of New Jersey files a lawsuit on behalf of the right of two police officers in Newark to wear beards as a matter of religious freedom. As Muslims, the officers wore beards as part of their religious beliefs.
1998: ACLU of Eastern Missouri win job back and permission to wear pin for a nurse who lost her job because she refused to remove a cross-shaped lapel pin from her uniform. The hospital had claimed the nurse violated its employee dress code when she expressed her Christian beliefs by wearing the pin.
1997: Arizona Civil Liberties Union sues City of Phoenix to challenge an ordinance under which the City refused to allow the Children of the Rosary, an anti-abortion group, to place ads on City buses. The lawsuit was filed jointly with the American Center for Law and Justice.
1996: ACLU of Virginia files lawsuit for church in Richmond threatened with closure of its Sunday meal program by city officials because of zoning regulations.
1995: ACLU of Washington supports right of a Baptist minister to distribute religious tracts in a park in Renton after police asked him to desist because he lacked City permission. The City relented after the ACLU pointed out that the law cited against the minister applied only to commercial activities.
1995: ACLU of Vermont wins ruling from state Human Services Board waiving state Social Welfare Dept. requirement for use of Social Security numbers by students receiving Medicaid and food stamp benefits. Their parents believed that such permanent numbers represent mark of the Anti-Christ, according to the Book of Revelations. ACLU argued that their religious beliefs could be protected by use of random identifying numbers.
1995: ACLU of Massachusetts successfully defended rights of prisoners to possess and use religious articles in their cells. Worcester County Sheriff had seized rosaries, prayer beads, religious medals, books and symbols, claiming they were signs of gang membership. ACLU of MA filed suit on behalf of the prisoners' rights to practice their religion under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 and the state constitution.
1995: ACLU of Massachusetts filed friend of the court brief in support of two women who were fired for refusing to work at the racetrack on Christmas Day.
1995: ACLU of Iowa successfully sued City of Waterloo to defend right of conservative Christian activist to broadcast on public access television.
1994: ACLU of Rhode Island files a federal lawsuit on behalf of the RI State Right to Life Committee, the RI State Rifle and Revolver Association and numerous other non-profit groups challenging a House of Representatives rule that bars private, but not government, lobbyists from the floor of the House while it is in session.
1994: ACLU of Pennsylvania assisted a pregnant 17-year-old whose parents wanted her to have an abortion she didn't want. She had moved away from home to continue her pregnancy, but her parents called police to have her brought home. ACLU convinced officials to let her continue her pregnancy and live away from parents.
1993: ACLU successfully defends the right of a woman to refuse, on religious grounds, to submit to a court-ordered caesarian section.
1993: ACLU of Northern California defends an 8th-grade student's right to wear a shirt saying "Real Women Love Jesus" in school by writing letters to principal. Result: School district lifts ban on shirt.
1993: ACLU of New Jersey files an amicus brief on behalf of anti-abortion picketers. "Our defense of freedom of speech clearly cannot vary, and has not varied, with the views expressed." -- ACLU attorney Frank Corrado.
1993: ACLU of Florida offers legal assistance to Operation Rescue, who refused the offer.
1993: ACLU joins battle to overturn a court ruling which banned a minister from holding meetings at a public school in New York State.
1992: ACLU of Rhode Island files a friend-of-the-court brief challenging a state judge's increase of bail for anti-abortion defendants, charged with obstructing a clinic, who refused to provide their Social Security numbers.
1991: ACLU of Northern California offers support for man arrested for displaying photographs of human fetuses. "The ACLU is pro-choice, but the fact that we might disagree with their message would never dissuade us from defending their right to speak out." --Elaine Elinson, Public Information director, ACLU-Northern California.
1990: ACLU of Southern California files a brief supporting Operation Rescue's appeal of a federal judge's ruling upholding the use of "pain compliance" techniques by L.A. police.
1990: ACLU of Rhode Island files a friend-of-the-court brief in state Supreme Court in support of anti-abortion protesters challenging the constitutionality of a town ordinance limiting residential picketing.
1990: ACLU of Central Florida backs televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker's attempt to challenge to zoning laws in Orlando, claiming the law's prohibition of churches in industrial zones violates church/state separation.
1990: ACLU of Iowa supports anti-abortionists' challenge to an Iowa City picketing ordinance.
1989: ACLU of Connecticut offers assistance to Operation Rescue demonstrators subjected to pain compliance holds. ACLU state director calls for state legislature to hold hearings on the issue and consideration forbidding their use.
1988: ACLU of Rhode Island favorably settles an administrative complaint challenging the use on police applicants of a standardized psychological test which asks questions relating to fundamentalist religious beliefs.
1982: ACLU of Rhode Island mounts a successful federal challenge on behalf of an unendorsed Democratic right to life candidate, to a state law allowing only political party committees to hold raffles to raise funds for political campaigns.
2007-09-27 11:43:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 15⤊ 0⤋
ACLU isn't against Christianity or for homosexuality, its for HUMAN RIGHTS and LIBERTIES. If rabid fundamentalist Christians don't overstep their bounds trying to hate and change people who are BORN a certain way, then the ACLU wouldn't need to get involved. If the Christians are persecuting and the homosexual rights are the persecuted, then the ACLU will get involved, same as if your rights were trampled because of any other factor that is your right as a HUMAN BEING and not the right of anyone else.
You can't legislate morals, and someone's homosexuality is no one else's business but their own! Every homosexual I've met has been the nicest person and I love them, and that's because I'm a Christian. They are human and deserve the same rights as everyone else.
Kudos Father K, good links and cases.
2007-09-27 18:45:33 · answer #2 · answered by Christine S 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
As if homosexuality and Christianity are mutually exclusive! As if LGBTs don't deserve civil liberties! And as if all Christians believe as you do!
Conservative Evangelical and Catholic Christians have many legal organizations that specialize in their concerns, but the ACLU has and continues to represent Christians. See here:
http://www.aclufightsforchristians.com/
2007-09-27 18:44:18 · answer #3 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The Constitution guarantees citizens freedom of religion. The ACLU wants freedom FROM religion. All IMHO, of course.
2007-09-27 18:51:17 · answer #4 · answered by Pearly Gator 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well Christianity wasn't being so loud about making their rights Everyone rights they wouldn't be such a big fat target. Christians are so SURE they are right, that they don't care who (American people) or what (The American Constitution) they run over.
I love how they cherry pick the Constitution just like they do the bible. Interesting.
Not all Christians are like this. But those who are NOT like this do NOTHING about those who are.
edit: And once again Father K to the rescue lol Awesome
2007-09-27 18:43:39 · answer #5 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
had you even bothered to research your question?
the aclu defends the freedom of religion, DO YOU?
2007-09-27 18:50:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Go Father K.
2007-09-27 18:49:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Thanks Fr K
I was going to gather links but you've done such a good job answering already
Thumbs up.
http://www.aclu.org/religion/discrim/31346prs20070730.html
2007-09-27 18:48:01 · answer #8 · answered by capekicks 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
sweety...xians are the majority..how the f**k are they violated ???
2007-09-27 18:43:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋