ACLU sues city over Jesus painting
The American Civil Liberties Union sued the city of Slidell on Tuesday for displaying a painting of Jesus in a courthouse lobby, saying it violates the constitutional separation of church and state.
The ACLU sued after the Slidell City Court refused to voluntarily remove the picture and a message below it that reads: “To Know Peace, Obey These Laws.” The ACLU says the portrait – an image of Jesus presenting the New Testament – is a religious icon of the Eastern Orthodox branch of Christianity.
The displayed picture has been in the lobby for a decade and now the ACLU has an unidentified complainant. The person who has a problem with the picture wants to hide behind this organization?
That individual can’t be too proud of the lawsuit or maybe it is and employee of the ACLU.
The suit was filed on behalf of an unidentified person who complained to the ACLU about the picture. Named as defendants were the city of Slidell, St. Tammany Parish and City Judge James Lamz. St. Tammany Parish is being sued because it partially funds the court, the ACLU said.
The Feds may decide the case:
On Saturday, Lamz said the picture would stay up unless a federal judge ordered it removed. He said he didn’t believe the portrait violates the Constitution, but the issue should be decided in federal court.
Lamz could not comment Tuesday because of the pending litigation, his office said.
Before refusing to take the painting down, Lamz consulted Douglas Laycock, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School who has argued before the Supreme Court.
Laycock said he told Lamz that the legal issues in the case aren’t clear-cut and could set legal precedent.
“I don’t know how far the two sides will want to push things,” Laycock added.
The painting has been on display at the courthouse for nearly a decade and hadn’t provoked any complaints prior to the ACLU’s recent objections, said Michael Johnson, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian civil rights group representing the city and parish.
Johnson, whose group is often at odds with the ACLU, said the painting sends an inclusive message of equal justice under the law. He said the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that similar displays in public forums are constitutional.
Tracked to: Stop The ACLU
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I am for anyone who attempts to stymie Satan! The ACLU is the devil’s advocacy to the extreme. They defend the evil in the world as well as a few gays.(Gays aren’t evil;but pride is ). But this organization defends atheists, illegal aliens and all sorts of slugs & scavengers, such as pimps, prostitutes and their johns. I still want any one of them to show me where the Bill of Rights or The Constitution mentions "separation of church & state" because I don’t think they have read it. I have and I keep a copy of it in our glove box. I think anyone should be able to display any portrayal of anyone stating we should obey the ten commandments should be considered free speech. If some atheist, or non believer sees it, what is the harm? They don’t believe in Him anyway! So why are they offended? Well, I’m offended that they are offended! No one knows what Jesus looks like as no one ever painted His portrait. Therefore, what anyone says is a "picture" of Jesus is wrong, technically, but the commandments are legitimate.
They are a great set of moral & legal laws to help anyone have a good life.