Sins of the Court

Despite what you may hear during some of the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court justices, the Supreme Court has one real job. The Court should balance the powers of the Executive and Legislative branches of government, especially when it comes to violations of the Constitution. If someone violates your Constitutional rights, the Supreme Court is your final resort.

Unless, of course, you're a minority.

Which is rather hypocritical for a court that has "Equal Justice for All" emblazoned across the front of the building. But that's the way it is.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court decided not to hear the case of Cynthia Simpson, who had been denied the right to give an invocation for the Chesterfield County board meetings. She was denied the right because she is a Wiccan, and therefore not Christian.

Cynthia successfully sued on the basis that the county was giving preference to Christian clergy over other religions. However, the county appealed to the District Court after changing their policy to disallow the mention of "Jesus" during invocations, and the District Court held that meant that the county was no longer giving one religion preference over another. Since the Supreme Court will not hear the case, the District Court's decision stands.

The county will accept invocations from Jewish, Muslim, and Christian clergy. No other religions are permitted to give invocations. While many may not see a problem with this, try role reversal. Imagine if over the next twenty years, most of the country converts to another religion. Now imagine you are a Christian, and a minority. Would you feel the same way if you were told that Christians could not give invocations at government functions, while other religions could?

Frankly, I don't think a government meeting is the right place for group prayer. If you're going to do it, you're going to have to let every religion do it. Banning all but three religions is nothing less than the establishment of three official religions, and as we all know,

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Labels: church, personal freedoms

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