Monthly Newsletter — June 2009 E-Update

Jun 4, 2009

Mojave Desert Cross defended

June 1, 2009, in a brief filed in the Supreme Court in Salazar v. Buono, the United States government defended the constitutionality of the 75-year old Mojave Desert Cross, which memorializes World War I veterans. The government argued that the case should be dismissed because the plaintiff has not been personally injured or denied any rights by the presence of the cross; he merely claims to be offended by it.

"Stripping this country of every symbol--even the religious ones--that might offend somebody somewhere will impoverish American culture," said Eric Rassbach, National Litigation Director of the Becket Fund, which is filing a brief in the case. "The First Amendment guarantees the right to speak and believe freely; it does not guarantee the right to silence those who disagree with you."

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Home Bible study? Get a permit, San Diego officials tell local pastor

Eric Rassbach,
National Litigation
Director

California pastor David Jones and his wife Mary Jones were questioned by San Diego County officials and threatened with fines over a weekly Bible study in their residence in Bonita, California, according to several news reports and televised interviews. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty has offered to assist the couple or others facing the same situation in California or elsewhere in the U.S.

"San Diego County has brought KGB tactics to Southern California," said Eric Rassbach, National Litigation Director at the Becket Fund. "Government agents have no place questioning American citizens about how they choose to worship in their own home."

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Proposed European Union law imperils religious liberty

Christianity Today reports that "under an anti-discrimination directive passed by the European Union Parliament in April, Christian churches, schools, and social services in Europe cannot limit their membership to those who share their beliefs." The directive will not become law unless it is passed unanimously.

"If the directive were passed into law, faith-based social services would face problems, said Luke Goodrich, legal counsel at the The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. For example, faith-based schools and daycare centers could be barred from taking applicants' religion into account for enrollment and employment. Marriage counselors and adoption agencies could have less discretion in accepting clients."

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Violence in houses of worship never justified

On May 31, 2009, George Tiller was shot to death while serving as an usher at his Lutheran church in Wichita, Kansas.

"Whoever saw fit to murder George Tiller--in a house of worship no less--has done something unspeakably evil. Period." said Kevin "Seamus" Hasson, President and Founder of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.

The Becket Fund's long-held position has been that violence in or against houses of worship is never justified.

"The authorities seem to think they have this particular crime well in hand. Nevertheless, to repeat once again: We stand ready to defend houses of worship of any tradition--Jewish, Christian, Hindu, or any other--from violence, regardless of the cause that violence seeks to serve," added Hasson. "The way to approach disputes over serious moral questions such as abortion is through reasoned public debate open to all."

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