RE: American Atheists suing over Ground Zero Cross
August 5, 2011 at 6:57 am
(This post was last modified: August 5, 2011 at 8:41 am by Anymouse.)
(August 5, 2011 at 4:12 am)Rwandrall Wrote: http://www.newser.com/story/124484/ameri...cross.html
The story in short: a cross-like structure was found at Ground Zero, and became a symbol for some. A museum (run by a NGO) wants to exhibit it. American Atheists filed a lawsuit, arguing that this symbol gives a feeling of exclusion to non-christians and that it is a constitutional violation.
In my view, since the government isn't even involved, i do think American Atheists have been kind of wrong with that lawsuit...but i'm not sure.
One would also point out that the Establishment Clause of the I Amendment prohibits government from establishing or playing favourites with religious belief. It does not prohibit private organisations, such as a museum, from doing so.
On the other hand, the other clause in there, freedom of religion and freedom of speech, would apply to a private organisation.
Such a lawsuit (from a non-legal scholar, myself) would likely be tossed as being without merit.
James
"Be ye not lost amongst Precept of Order." - Book of Uterus, 1:5, "Principia Discordia, or How I Found Goddess and What I Did to Her When I Found Her."
