Who really rules America? The Elected, the Churches, the self-appointed Liberals, the Television?
Defeat without a fight.
Unelected and self-appointed watch dogs.
Elected by the people.
Richard Church, Jr., Mayor
10 North First Street
Miamisburg, Ohio 45342
SENT VIA FAX AND CERTIFIED U.S. MAIL
Dear Mayor Church,
It has come to the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio Foundation that you recently issued a proclamation designating 1999 to be "Year of the Bible."
The purpose of this correspondence is to inform you that the ACLU of Ohio feels very strongly that such a proclamation, together with the language contained in the proclamation itself, amounts to an undeniably unconstitutional and inappropriate action by a government official. Indeed, encouraging Miamisburg residents to read through the New Testament and apply the teachings to their lives represents an excessive entanglement of government and religion. Furthermore, it serves no compelling interest that would warrant such a blatant disregard for the separation of church and state that we abide by in this country.
In fact, the ACLU of Ohio feels that such actions on the part of your office are so offensive to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment that we demand that you rescind the proclamation at the next possible legislative session. Failure to rescind said proclamation at the earliest possible date will inevitably invite litigation from the ACLU.
Should you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me at the below address.
Sincerely,
Scott T. Greenwood
General Counsel
ACLU of Ohio
Greenwood & Associates
1 Liberty House
PO Box 54400
Cincinnati, Ohio 45254-0400
Mayor Rescinds "Year of the Bible" Proclamation after ACLU Threatens Lawsuit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 30, 1998
MIAMISBURG, OH-- Facing a First Amendment lawsuit by the American Civil
Liberties Union of Ohio, Mayor Dick Church, Jr. yesterday rescinded his
proclamation of 1999 as "The Year of the Bible," the ACLU announced today.
Mayor Church had issued the proclamation on December 10th, saying that
"renewing our knowledge and faith in God through the Holy Scripture, the
Bible, can strengthen us a nation and as a people." The Mayor also
encouraged the citizens of Miamisburg to "read through the New Testament for
at least five minutes daily," citing "our need to study and apply the
teachings of the Holy Scriptures to our lives and civil conduct."
After being informed of the proclamation by a Miamisburg resident, the ACLU
of Ohio sent a letter to the Mayor demanding that he rescind the
proclamation or face a lawsuit. Mayor Church conferring with the City's law
director and notified the ACLU that he had officially rescinded the
proclamation as of December 29th.
Watch dogs
Luke 20:20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
Luke 6:7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
Imagine this.
Pastor: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor: Yes?
Pastor: Don't you think you could have at least made an appearance in Court and forced to the judge to order you to rescind the proclamation?
The Courts don't move as fast as a scared rabbit. The decision
may not have come till after 1999 when it would be too late.
Couldn't you have told the Judge about
Presidents Reagan and Bush?
"We're happy to see that Mayor Church recognized that such a proclamation
violates constitutional prohibitions against government endorsements of
religion," said Scott Greenwood, General Counsel for the ACLU of Ohio. "When
government institutions involve themselves with religious beliefs and
worship," he added, "they inevitably alienate
certain segments of their
population -- and trample on the Bill of Rights." The proclamation is the
latest in a series of religious liberty controversies that the ACLU of Ohio
has been embroiled in this past year. Included are legal challenges to the
State of Ohio motto "With God All Things Are Possible,"1 a city seal in Stow
that features a crucifix and open Bible2, and school vouchers in Cleveland.3
The ACLU of Ohio has been involved as well in school prayer issues in
London, the planned hiring of a school chaplain in Brookville,4 and monitoring5 various "release time" programs in several public schools in
Ohio.
1 - "With God All Things Are Possible," was ruled
unconstitutional.
2 - Another Christian defeat.
3 - The Ohio Constitution was first adopted in 1802. Twenty-three
years later, in 1825, a tax levy was passed to support and set up a public
school system. Therefore, before 1825 the schools mentioned in the Ohio
Constitution were private and church schools. Christian Churches founded 106
of the first 108 schools. As first written, the Ohio Constitution required
the State to protect and encourage private church schools.
4 - ACLU and 'Americans'
United would not grant permission.
5 - Luke 20:20 "And they watched him, and sent forth spies,..." Also
Daniel 6.
The Constitution of the State of Ohio
Bill of Rights
All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience. No person shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship, or maintain any form of worship, against his consent; and no preference shall be given, by law, to any religious society; nor shall any interference with the rights of conscience be permitted. No religious test shall be required, as a qualification for office, nor shall any person be incompetent to be a witness on account of his religious belief; but nothing herein shall be construed to dispense with oaths and affirmations. Religion, morality, and knowledge, however, being essential to good government, it shall be the duty of the general assembly to pass suitable laws to protect every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship, and to encourage schools and the means of instruction.