From: scruggs@zeus.franklin.edu (Kevin Scruggs)
Subject: Re: Madeleine Murray O'Hare
Organization: Franklin University (Columbus, OH)
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 22:25:06 GMT

In article <root.726502852@spssig> adams@spss.com (Steve Adams) writes:
>scruggs@zeus.franklin.edu (Kevin Scruggs) writes:
>
>>In article <root.726418525@spssig> adams@spss.com (Steve Adams) writes:
>>>cortese@skid.ps.uci.edu (Janis Maria Cortese) writes:
>>	The Congress (?) shall make no law supporting the establishment of
>>religion or the free exercise thereof...
>>
>>	Ever heard of an apropriations bill? In other words, any government
>>funding can be considered logically equivalent to a law. Therefore, it is 
>>illegal for the congress/etc to pass a bill/law that supports religion by 
>>subsidizing it.
>
>Hardly.  If the feds supply some of the funding of the local PBS station,
>and some portion of that money is used to broadcast a religious program
>(lets say it's educational, for sake of argument) that is hardly
>'establishment' of religion.  And by the way, if 'subsidizing' religion
>were unconstitutional, then churches wouldn't be tax exempt, now would
>they?
	I disagree with churches being tax exempt as well...
>
>The establishment clause is meant to protect religious liberty by
>disallowing the establishment of a national religion.  Nothing more.
>The Supreme Court is dead wrong, cf the founders comments on the purposes
>of the BofR.
>
>And finally, PBS is NOT a government agency....
>
>>>Note well that religious groups may meet in school buildings if the school
>>>allows other student groups to meet...In other words, you can't discriminate 
>>>against a bible study if you allow a chess club.
>>>
>>	 This point is still under contention. Personally, I find it rather
>>silly that religious groups feel the need to congregate in public buildings/
>>schools when plenty of churchs/temples/mosques infest the landscape...
>
>A non-denominational bible study?  A group of kids who want to meet to talk
>about religion?  Why should they be banned from school property when any
>other group may meet?  That is plain and pure discrimination.
	Oh please, we both know we aren't talking about metaphysical debating
societies here. (wouldnt be opposed to those tho...) We are talking about cells
of a religion. A micro congregation if you will... Something that definitely 
doesnt need to be subsidized on government property.

>
>And as for being under contention, recent court rulings support my
>position.
>
>>	Oh, and a chess club is hardly comparable to a religious group. I 
>>wonder if you would be so supportive if it was wiccans that wanted to broadcast
>>on PBS...
>I see a lot on PBS that I don't agree with.  So what?  I just look at is
>diversity.  IF PBS wants to run a program that reflects favorably on
>wiccans, so what?  It's a free country...
>
	I think the point in contention was religious ceremonies, not just
ducumentaries...
>You make the assumption that I don't support true equal access.  You are
>wrong.  I really don't care who or what is on TV, so long as NOONE is
>restricted.  You want equal access for everyone EXCEPT Christians.  Nice
>double standard you have there.
	I am the one who uses the term 'religious group' you're the one stuck 
sectarian terms such as bible study. You can't even think in any other terms.
You remind me of a USMC Ssgt that thought atheist was some sort of protestant
denomination when I told him why I refused to be herded off to church services.....

	It just so happens that xianity happens to be the most obnoxious
and widespread religion in these parts... 

	oh, btw, I saw how quickly you started twisting my statements. Are you a creationist too???...
>
> -Steve
>--
>  The opinions expressed above are those of the author and not SPSS, Inc.
>                         -------------------
>   adams@spss.com                                  Phone: (312) 329-3522
>   Steve Adams        "Space-age cybernomad"       Fax:   (312) 329-3558


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