Judge Stephen M. Cohen, who is Jewish, said he has seen A.D.--Latin for anno Domini, "in the year of the Lord"--on legal documents throughout his career and took action because nonChristians might not believe they are living "in the year of the Lord."
"I was concerned it would offend somebody," said Cohen, who started scratching out any A.D. that showed up on court documents requiring his signature.
The judge filed a complaint with Circuit Court officials, but when they declined to act, he issued an A.D. ultimatum.
The memo, which read, "Please be advised that effective December 1, 1997, I will not sign any documents bearing the A.D. designation," was referred to the state Attorney General's Office, which sent it to the state Court Administrator's Office. The memo was finally referred to state Supreme Court Justice Gerald Kogan, who, along with the other justices, agreed that A.D. is not necessary on court documents.
Florida law does not require or prohibit putting A.D. by the year on any official documents.
The U.S. District Court suit states the teacher's actions violated the student's First Amendment rights to free speech and exercise of religion.
Controversy erupted in September when the student, 16, refused to recite the ROTC creed, which ends with the phrase: "May God grant me the strength to live by this creed."
According to the suit, Sgt. Randolph Smith told the plaintiff he would receive an "F" for each day he refused to recite the full creed. Within days, the student was "stripped of his rank as a master sergeant" and was frequently isolated by negative treatment, which made him feel like an outcast and eventually led him to leave the Junior ROTC program.
Charles Woolwine was transferred to a data center--where he will have no contact with students--and suspended five days without pay by Oskaloosa County school officials for promoting prayers, discussing scripture with students during school hours, conducting baptisms and asking students to be saved at meetings of the school's chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).
Woolwine was also found to have violated professional ethics by hand delivering at school a letter objecting to the divorce of two teachers he had married in his capacity as notary public.
Woolwine's nephew, Jack Wilson, a science teacher at the school, was suspended for three days for participating in denominational activities at FCA chapter meetings.
Both men are appealing the disciplinary actions.
School board member Don Gaetz, a Lutheran, said Woolwine attempted "to make people who didn't share his views feel as though they were somehow second-class Christians or that they were in danger of damnation."
Gaetz also said he received anonymous death threats after he asked for an investigation into complaints of religious intolerance at Niceville High.
The investigation's findings have been forwarded to the state Professional Practices Council, which could suspend or revoke the teaching certificates of both men.
Criticism of the policy--intended to keep the House from becoming a religious battleground--surfaced during the Legislature's veto session in October, when a minister objected to the pledge, claiming it "compromised his faith."
Democratic Speaker Michael Madigan instituted the policy last spring after objections were raised to the Christian bias of some prayers.
For the past 25 years, a stone monument erected by the Fraternal Order of Eagles and inscribed with the Ten Commandments has stood alone on the courthouse lawn. Three years ago, members of the Summum faith sued Utah's Salt Lake County Commission for refusing permission to erect a monolith bearing the Summum religious tenets.
After the commission refused, a district judge dismissed the suit, saying the courthouse lawn was not a public forum. But the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Dee Benson with orders to "carefully scrutinize" the commission's refusal and ensure there was no discrimination.
Shortly after its erection in 1971, the monolith became the center of controversy when residents and taxpayers sued the city and county claiming it violates of the separation of church and state.
That suit was dismissed by the 10th Circuit Court, noting that while the Ten Commandments has a religious nature, it also contains "substantial secular attributes," especially as a precedent to our current legal code.
However, that ruling has been called into question after a more recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1980 which states the Ten Commandments are "undeniably a sacred text."
Despite opposition from Catholic and Pentecostal leaders, Newfoundland is also trying to eliminate religiously-controlled schools.
A Catholic public school system remains intact in Ontario.
According to newspaper reports, the diminishing role of the Roman Catholic Church is reflected by fewer than 10% attending Mass regularly, compared to 90% a few decades ago.
"Nothing is more powerful than people of faith coming together," Tate said. "We can move from the pews to the precincts to the polls and have an impact with just a few people."
Tate's message mapped the strategy of the coalition for future campaigns, including the presidential caucauses in 2000. He said that by organizing early, the coalition--which has status as a nonprofit entity--can influence the direction of the presidential campaign.
According to IRS regulations, non-profit organizations may not engage in political activity.
The council said it would match contributions made by Dec. 31 from Lafayette residents and businesses.
According to a Mt. Diablo Family YMCA promotional membership postcard, the YMCA is "a values based associations founded on Christian principles, dedicated to enriching the lives of all people through programs that strengthen spirit, mind and body.