State/Church Bulletin

Mojave Cross Must Go

A federal district court ruling on April 12 barred the transference of federal land hosting a Latin cross in the Mojave National Preserve to a private party to maintain the cross.

Judge Robert J. Timlin had earlier ruled in July 2002 that the cross on a prominent rock violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. His decision was upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last summer. Timlin's April decision rejected a maneuver to transfer the land on which the cross sits to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

"It is evident to the court that the government has engaged in herculean efforts to preserve the Latin cross on federal land," and that the proposed transfer "can be viewed as an attempt to keep the Latin cross atop Sunrise Rock."

Billions to Religions

Religious charities in 10 states got 40% of the $2 billion in taxpayer money available to "faith-based" groups in 2004, according to White House figures released on March 31. About a quarter of the money went to international groups, and remaining funds went to groups in the other states and U.S. territories. "Top 10" states were New York, Illinois, California, New Jersey, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, and Georgia.

Florida Funds Faith

The nation's first federally funded faith-based mentoring program for juvenile offenders was announced in Florida on April 1.

The $3.5-million, 3-year program to serve 200 youths a year at six residential programs is Christian-based.

BSA Case Appealed

Foundation member John Scalise is appealing a January court ruling which approved the policy of his school district to let the discriminatory Boy Scouts of America recruit inside public schools.

He asked the Michigan Supreme Court to review the state appeals court decision. Scalise volunteered to be a troop leader in 1997 when his son, then in third grade, joined Cub Scouts. When Scalise refused to sign the Scouts' declaration of religious principle, his membership was revoked. The Scalises filed suit against Mount Pleasant Schools in 2000.

Military Proselytizing

The U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado has admitted pro-Christian bias following recent complaints. Jewish cadet Curtis Weinstein was called "an f-ing Jew" and blamed for "killing Jews" by a cadet on the softball field, among other incidents.

A recent grad who is an atheist filed a complaint to the Pentagon charging the academy is "systematically biased against any cadet that does not overtly espouse Christianity." Mandatory events often include Christian prayer. "The Passion of the Christ" advertisements were posted everywhere, including every place setting in the dining hall.

Gen. Johnny Weida sent a letter to cadets saying, "You are accountable first to God," although cadets swear an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution first. When the atheist grad contacted the Military Equal Opportunity Officer, the officer revealed he was Christian and it was his duty to "bring him back" to the flock.

In late April, Associated Press obtained a report by consultants from Yale Divinity School documenting that a Protestant chaplain at the academy had promoted fire-and-brimstone Christianity during cadet basic training last July. He told 600 cadets "to go back to their tents and tell their fellow cadets that those who are not born again will burn in the fires of hell."

Academy spokesman Johnny Whitaker told Associated Press religious tolerance classes are now mandatory for cadets and staff: "We're making strides out here. We recognize the problem."

Now That's Scary!

The Roman Catholic Church in late March announced plans to establish the first religious society devoted exclusively to fighting euthanasia and abortion. The male-only Missionaries of the Gospel of Life, founded by Father Frank A. Pavone, will be housed in the Diocese of Amarillo, Texas, and will be overtly political.

Priests will be trained to conduct voter-registration drives, lobby lawmakers and "use the media." The group will also train priests to demonstrate outside abortion clinics. Pavone is also a director of Priests for Life.

Pharmacist Rebuked

The Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining Board on April 13 reprimanded a Roman Catholic pharmacist who refused to refill a woman's prescription for oral contraceptives because contraception is a "sin."

Neil T. Noesen, 31, working at a Kmart in Menomonie, Wis., refused to refill the student's prescription, to transfer the prescription or refer her to another pharmacist.

Wisconsin is one of 47 states allowing health care providers, but not pharmacists, to refuse treatment on "moral or religious" grounds. Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blogojevich in April required Illinois pharmacies to dispense birth control prescriptions immediately and without question.

Faith-based Suit

Taxpayer-funded religious instruction and job discrimination in a Pennsylvania vocational training program for inmates is being jointly challenged by Americans United and the ACLU, in a lawsuit filed on Feb. 17.

The Firm Foundation program at the Bradford County Correctional Facility, in which public funding provides 90% of its budget, hires only Christians, and proselytizes inmates.

Funds are provided by state and local public sources as well as the U.S. Department of Justice, but originally came through the Labor Department. The program for county inmates includes prayer, bible study and religious counseling. Employees must "believe in Christ and Christian Life today." Each work day "will start with a short prayer."

Plaintiffs include a former inmate who felt pressured to take part in the religious program to get vocational training, as well as Bradford Count taxpayers.

Faith Filibuster?

U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, the highest-ranking member of the U.S. Senate as Republican majority leader, took part in a church telecast to promote the "nuclear option" of barring filibusters to oppose Bush judicial appointments. Frist referred to Democrats blocking a tiny number of Pres. Bush's judicial nominees as being "against people of faith."

The Family Research Council organized the overtly political April 24 telecast, "Justice Sunday: The filibuster against people of faith," including prominent conservative Christians speaking by simulcast to churches, websites and Christian TV networks.

DeLay's Religious Roots

Rep. Tom Delay, R-Tex., facing numerous allegations of ethics violations, has invoked "ostentatious religious trappings," according to New York Times columnist Frank Rich (April 17, 2005):

"His efforts to play God with Terri Schiavo were preceded by crusades like blaming the teaching of evolution for school shootings and raising money for the Traditional Values's campaign to save American from the 'war on Christianity.' Mr. DeLay's chief of staff was his pastor, and, according to Time magazine, organized daily prayer sessions in their office. Today this holy man, Ed Buckham, is a lobbyist implicated in another DeLay junket to South Korea."

DeLay's close friend, lobbyist Jack Abramoff, an Orthodox Jew who accused Sen. Joe Liberman of securing "the tortuous death of millions" for supporting abortion rights, "snookered" six American Indian tribes into handing over $82 million for casino interests, recycling some tribal takings into a nonprofit center for "public policy research." This center helped send DeLay, a gambling foe, on a golfing junket in Scotland. The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is investigating $82 million in lobbying fees that Abramoff and his partner Michael Scanlon made from tribes.

Abramoff is also friend to Ralph Reed, former director of the Christian Coalition, another vaunted gambling foe, now running for lieutenant governor in Georgia, whose consulting firm made $4.2 million from "indirect transfers of casino dough."

Schiavo Circus

Michael W. Mitchell, of Rockford, Ill., tried to steal a weapon from a gunshop in Florida so he could "rescue Terri Schiavo." The owner said Mitchell told him "if I wasn't on Terri's side then I wasn't on God's side, either."

A priest, Father Peter West, who interrupted several Senate committee meetings to rant about Schiavo, was ejected, issued a trespass warning and banned from the Florida Capitol.

Waltzing in to capitalize on the case was antiabortion bully Randall Terry, of Operation Rescue, who was welcomed by Schiavo's ultra-Catholic parents. Terry filed bankruptcy in 1999, to evade a $1.6 million judgment to NOW for racketeering over abortion clinic protests. In 2000, the "holier-than-thou" religionist divorced his wife of 19 years amid allegations of infidelity.

Also showing up at the last minute for a photo op: Rev. Jesse Jackson.

William P. Cheshire, Jr., introduced by Gov. Jeb Bush as "a renowned neurologist," was trotted out by the 24/7 TV networks, insisting Schiavo was in a "minimally conscious state." He directs the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, which is Christian. Dr. Ronald Cranford, a neurologist and medical ethicist at the University of Minnesota Medical School who examined Schiavo on behalf of Florida courts and declared her irredeemably brain-damaged, told the New York Times: "He has to be bogus, a pro-life fanatic. You'll not find any credible neurologist or neurosurgeon to get involved at this point and say she's not vegetative." Cranford pointed out Schiavo's EEG was flat. Cheshire never examined Schiavo.