The legal effort to halt prayer at presidential inaugurations continues.
Atheist Michael Newdow -- along with numerous other individuals and atheist groups -- filed the lawsuit which was lost in federal district court. They have now appealed to the federal DC Circuit Court of Appeals, continuing their efforts to ban prayers they say make them "sick to their stomach." Brad Dacus of the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) says complaints from atheists in the appeals court are extreme. "The claim by the plaintiffs that they got sick and were just ill because of the exposure to hearing a prayer at the Inauguration -- this claim is outrageous," says Dacus. "It is ridiculous, and we at the Pacific Justice Institute intend to make sure that these kinds of outrageous challenges to religious freedom do not go unchallenged." The atheists are telling the court their views ought to be protected. But the PJI attorney sees hypocrisy in their demands. "In their zeal to argue for tolerance for their views, they are engaging in outrageous intolerance for people of faith," he points out. "This double-standard will not hold." Dacus represents the two pastors who prayed at the ceremony -- Dr. Rick Warren and Dr. Joseph Lowery, who are listed as defendants in the case. Results from our related pollWhy do lawsuits seeking bans on public prayers usually target Christian prayersinstead of those of other religions?
Atheist Michael Newdow -- along with numerous other individuals and atheist groups -- filed the lawsuit which was lost in federal district court. They have now appealed to the federal DC Circuit Court of Appeals, continuing their efforts to ban prayers they say make them "sick to their stomach." Brad Dacus of the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) says complaints from atheists in the appeals court are extreme. "The claim by the plaintiffs that they got sick and were just ill because of the exposure to hearing a prayer at the Inauguration -- this claim is outrageous," says Dacus. "It is ridiculous, and we at the Pacific Justice Institute intend to make sure that these kinds of outrageous challenges to religious freedom do not go unchallenged." The atheists are telling the court their views ought to be protected. But the PJI attorney sees hypocrisy in their demands. "In their zeal to argue for tolerance for their views, they are engaging in outrageous intolerance for people of faith," he points out. "This double-standard will not hold." Dacus represents the two pastors who prayed at the ceremony -- Dr. Rick Warren and Dr. Joseph Lowery, who are listed as defendants in the case.
Results from our related poll
Why do lawsuits seeking bans on public prayers usually target Christian prayers
instead of those of other religions?
If you believe OneNewsNow.com is an important source for Christian news, please consider a small tax-deductible gift for this service.
