Subject: USA Attack on Religious Freedom
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 21:45:04 +0000
From: chumney@bright.net
Reply-To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
To: "Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>

>From  Howard Morgan
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: USA Attack on Religious Freedom

Dear Ones.....I was asked to forward this...

     As you may know from listening to Point Of View recently, a federal
judge in Alabama --Judge Ire DeMent-- has ordered paid
anti-religious "monitors" to enter classrooms and assemblies in a
rural school district. In a permanent injunction, this federal judge:

* ORDERED A CRACK DOWN on any student observed discussing their faith
or praying out loud -- even quiet, private, voluntary prayers!!!

* ORDERED A CRACK DOWN on prayers traditionally given at graduation
assemblies, and by players and coaches at football games.

* ORDERED A CRACK DOWN on so-called "religious harassment." This  mandate
has been interpreted by some frightened school officials as a BAN ON
CHRISTIAN STUDENTS WITNESSING to others, even at lunchtime -- or Christian
students
wearing Jesus T-shirts and bracelets.

       Penalties will be severe. But -- it gets worse!!!

       You see, Judge DeMent has banned prayer by teachers and students even
during emergencies -- such as a life-threatening injury or a national
crisis. Profane sex ed. is okay, but not talk of God!!!

       But worse of all, Judge DeMent has put the ultra-liberal ACLU  in
control of indoctrination classes for every teacher and principal on  what
is "acceptable" religious expression!!!

       Local officials describe "an aura of fear, control, and intimidation"
as fearful teachers enforce this policy (or even go further). Many Christian
students have resisted and been EXPELLED.

       If this order stands, the ACLU and other anti-Christian bigots will
file lawsuits in a campaign to spread the ruling to every school and public
place in America.

       And if that succeeds, all our religious freedoms could topple
like dominoes in a windstorm! Please don't let that happen.

       I'm writing this to ask if you will help me to stir up the
Christian community to build public pressure to overturn this ruling  on
appeal. It can be done, but grassroots pressure will be crucial.

       The governor of Alabama, Bob James, has said, "This ruling
cuts at the heart of all that is good in America and brings shame on our
nation." How right he is! He also declared he would resist "by every legal
and political means with every ounce of strength I possess." But frankly,
Gov.
James will get nowhere against the Courts without a massive  public
outcry -- a national outcry, not just in Alabama.

      Christians can turn back this outrage if we spread the word and pray
hard. But a "quick fix," though urgent in this case, is not enough. We
desperately need a deeper remedy: a Constitutional Amendment. For
that reason, people are urging Congress to pass a Constitutional
Amendment which would guarantee the right to free speech about
religious matters in public places, like schools.

       Of course, the First Amendment already gives us that right. But as
you can see from decades of abusive rulings by federal judges like
Ire DeMent, the First Amendment has been twisted BEYOND REPAIR.
Without a change in the Constitution, abuses like this will continue.

       Long-term, our only hope is the "Religious Freedom Amendment."
This is a carefully-worded by Rep. Ernest Istook (R-Ok.) This  amendment
would force the courts to recognize religious freedom. It would repair
decades of anti-religious damage. it would be a life-giving heart transplant
for our
laws and our nation. In fact, I'm hoping this  tragedy could even work to
our advantage if we use it to illustrate the crying need for a Religious
Freedom
Amendment.

       Christians from Alabama are pleading with me to spread the word about
this emergency. Rep. Istook has also begged our audience to  support the
Religious Freedom Amendment. But I need your prompt assistance.  Please send
this to everyone possible and tell everyone you know about this, especially
your senior pastor at your church. This is very crucial. We must pray harder
now than ever before. Remember, the Amendment is up  for vote this Winter.
Don't let this become something horrifyingly devastating. Thank you for your
time, patience, and effort. EVERYONE MUST KNOW!!!

PLEASE FOREWARD THIS TO EVERY E-MAIL ADDRESS YOU KNOW!!!  Thanks.

<A HREF="http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/">Contacting the Congress</A>

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