Blocking prayer at inauguration - PhillyBlog

monavano · #1 (**permalink**) 01-14-2005, 01:41 PM

an aetheist from California is trying to block a prayer from being said during an invocation/benediction during next week's inaugural ceremony because he "doesn't want to hear it". Is this going too far? With all the fuss about separating church and state etc., it is perhaps surprising that thus far, a poll shows that 85% disagree with him.

http://www.nbc4.com/news/4082622/detail.html

IMPAQ · #2 (**permalink**) 01-14-2005, 02:07 PM

I agree with him. It's crap. Why the need for it? He should pray in private. Why does it need to be "official"? For everyone to see?

Steve · #3 (**permalink**) 01-14-2005, 02:38 PM

Like it or not, public displays of religiosity are an American tradition. Nobody is hurt by this and the vast majority support it. I say go ahead and pray.

Remember what MC Hammer said, "We've got to pray just to make it today." Hahahahah, now all you who read this are going to have that song in your heads the rest of the day. hahahahahahahahah!!. :rolling_:

sycamore · #4 (**permalink**) 01-15-2005, 02:51 AM

I fully supported Newdow when he fought to have God removed from the Pledge, but this seems a bit excessive to me. The way I see it, this is what the President wants at his swearing in...it's traditional, but doesn't have to be done. The case will be thrown out early next week.

Geno · #5 (**permalink**) 01-15-2005, 09:36 AM

I think if the guy "doesn't want to hear it," then he shouldn't go and he shouldn't watch it on TV. I don't want to see or hear anything that goes on that day, so I'll just not watch rather than demand they taylor the program to me.

sycamore · #6 (**permalink**) 01-15-2005, 11:10 AM

I believe you and I will be working at noon that day.

Alan Smithee · #7 (**permalink**) 01-15-2005, 01:49 PM

They should have the right to say a group prayer. As I should have the right to go put on a burkah and scream out the praises of Allah while they're trying to pray. Will I do this? Hell no, I wouldn't know where to even buy a burkah, besides I'll be to busy throwing eggs.

SurfDog · #8 (**permalink**) 01-16-2005, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geno

I think if the guy "doesn't want to hear it," then he shouldn't go and he shouldn't watch it on TV. I don't want to see or hear anything that goes on that day, so I'll just not watch rather than demand they taylor the program to me.

Amen Brother!

peacemover · #9 (**permalink**) 01-18-2005, 09:08 AM

I would think that an invocation that is not faith-specific would be appropriate... Personally I respect the position of many so-called atheists. I often wonder, though, whether they also respect that our Constitution and Bill of rights not only protects separation of church and state, but also freedom of speech for EVERYONE, not just the people who have the same beliefs (or unbeliefs in this case) as them.

The pendulum swings back and forth, but doesn't spend much time near the middle does it...

peacemover · #10 (**permalink**) 01-19-2005, 08:06 PM

Here is an article on the final ruling:

article link

Quote:

Atheist Loses Bids to Stop Inaugural Prayers

Wed Jan 19, 3:56 PM ET Top Stories - Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two U.S. Supreme Court (news - web sites) members separately rejected on Wednesday an emergency request from a California atheist who sought to stop the recital of prayers at President Bush (news - web sites)'s inauguration.

Chief Justice William Rehnquist (news - web sites) and then Justice John Paul Stevens (news - web sites) turned down atheist Michael Newdow. He is best known for trying unsuccessfully to remove the phrase "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance that millions of U.S. schoolchildren recite every day.

Newdow, a doctor-lawyer who is acting as his own attorney in the case, argued that clergy-led prayers at the inauguration on Thursday would violate his constitutional rights.

"As an atheist, he cannot in good conscience attend an exercise where his government forces him to endure religious dogma he finds highly disagreeable," Newdow wrote in his motion filed with the Supreme Court. "Newdow's rights of religious freedom should be protected."

Newdow, who lives in Sacramento, California, said he would drop his plans to attend the inauguration if forced to confront the prayers by two Christian ministers.

Newdow also had suggested that Rehnquist, who plans to administer the oath of office to Bush at the inauguration, remove himself from considering his request.

He said Rehnquist took part in the 2001 inauguration when prayers were included. In seeking Rehnquist's recusal, Newdow said the chief justice would feel "awkward" at the ceremony if he rules in Newdow's favor.

After Rehnquist denied Newdow's request for an injunction, Newdow refiled it with Stevens, who also rejected it.