6th Circuit: No Need to Put Anti-Religion Sign with Nativity Scene

A three-judge panel from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a unanimous ruling yesterday against a so-called “Winter Solstice” sign the Freedom From Religion Foundation recently tried to put alongside Christmas decorations in the city of Warren, Michigan. The sign read:

“At this season of THE WINTER SOLSTICE may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world, Religion is but Myth and superstition that hardens hearts And enslaves minds.”

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Seventh Circuit Court: School May Not Rent Church Facilities

The Seventh Circuit Court has ruled a school who rented a church facility for a graduation violated the Establishment Clause to the Constitution.

The school’s gymnasium was deemed too uncomfortable for hosting the graduation ceremony; as a result, the school sought a different venue. They settled on renting a church facility. A group sued the school for its decision. The school won every court case up until it was appealed to the entire Seventh Circuit Court. The Seventh Circuit ruled the church’s “pervasively religious” facility and conventional religious symbols constituted a violation on the part of the school.

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Louie Giglio Out of Inauguration Program Over Christian Views

Pastor Louie Giglio  was slated to give the benediction at the President’s  upcoming inauguration. However, as Giglio’s appearance on the program gained publicity, critics began circulating a sermon the pastor delivered some years ago in which he spoke against gay activists trying to make the homosexual lifestyle “a norm in our society.”

Pastor Giglio initially accepted the invitation to give the benediction, but later withdrew that acceptance, not wanting his prayer to be “dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda the focal point of the inauguration.”

Adding insult to injury, the President’s inaugural committee reportedly released a statement, saying,

We were not aware of Pastor Giglio’s past comments at the time of his selection and they don’t reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of our country at this Inaugural. Pastor Giglio was asked to deliver the benediction in large part for his leadership in combating human trafficking around the world. As we now work to select someone to deliver the benediction, we will ensure their beliefs reflect this administration’s vision of inclusion and acceptance for all Americans.

As some have pointed out, this is a far cry from four years ago, when, despite criticism from gay groups, President Obama reached out to conservative ministers like Rick Warren, who are equally opposed to same-sex marriage and homosexuality.

You can read more about this story here and here.