Outrageous Attacks on Supporters of Church-State Separation: Death Threats, Murdered Pets, and .....

[marmar]

from AlterNet:


Outrageous Attacks on Supporters of Church-State Separation: Death Threats, Murdered Pets, and Vandalized Property


When it comes to the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment, which forbids the establishment of a state religion by the government even if a majority supports it, is something most of us heartedly support.

But not all. The religious right despises the First Amendment, since it's constantly foiled their efforts to inject Christian doctrine into government. And when they've lost in court, religious conservatives in the U.S. have often waged campaigns of threats, harassment and outright violence against First Amendment plaintiffs, in the hopes of intimidating them into backing down and achieving by mob violence what they can't achieve under the law.

Last year, the Freedom from Religion Foundation contacted two public school districts in Pennsylvania, in New Kensington and Connellsville, to demand the removal of large stone Ten Commandments monuments prominently placed on school property. When the schools chose to fight, the FFRF and its local plaintiffs, including current students, filed a lawsuit.

As often happens in these cases, FFRF plaintiffs asked to have their identities concealed because they feared harassment and retaliation from the community. It was a well-founded fear, since some of them had already been receiving threats on social media. On a Facebook page supporting the New Kensington school, one person encouraged others to "slam the shit out of the bitch" who filed the lawsuit. Another commenter asked, "Have the families involved in the lawsuit been identified? I cannot believe anyone living in the community would participate in such a worthless cause. Someone needs to send that group back to Wisconsin with several black eyes!" ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/belief/outrageous-attacks-supporters-church-state-separation-death-threats-murdered-pets-and

[spanone]

1. k&r..

[annabanana]

2. Kick!. . How quickly they resort to violence highlights what they self-justify when

"God's on their Side"

[L0oniX]

3. Terrorists!

[amuse bouche]

4. But..but

Religies are kind and gentle and so Jeeebus like

[SidDithers]

5. Can't you just feel the spiritual love...nt

Sid

[ck4829]

22. From page 2

Joann Bell and another local parent, Lucille McCord, were both Christians but of different denominations, and didn't want their children exposed to Baptist preaching on school time. When they filed a lawsuit with the help of the ACLU, Bell v. Little Axe, retribution was swift and vicious.

Joann Bell was assaulted by a school employee who smashed her head repeatedly against a car door; he was only fined, and the community rallied around him and raised money to pay the fine. The Bells' home was burned to the ground; fire marshals ruled it to be arson, but no arrest was ever made. McCord's son raised goats, which an unknown person slashed and mutilated with a knife. Both of them received threatening letters, including copies of their own obituaries. The Bells got a phone call from someone who said he would break into Joann Bell's house, tie up her children, rape her in front of them, and then "bring her to Jesus."

"Thank you for smashing my head against a car door, burning my house down, giving me an obituary of myself, and threatening to rape me in front of my children; you really opened my eyes to your love."

It must be reiterated, these right wing fundamentalists REALLY think this.

[John1956PA]

6. In Pennsylvania church-state separation cases, Plaintiffs' might lose right to anonymity.

Here is link to an article reporting that "State Rep. Tim Krieger wants to eliminate the secrecy behind anonymous lawsuits that seek to remove religious symbols from public places."

Proposal targets anonymous lawsuits

Here is an excerpt from the article:

“This is just a way for people to prevail without public scrutiny,” Krieger said.

In announcing his legislation, Krieger referred to the suits filed last year by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and anonymous students and parents over the monuments at New Kensington-Arnold and Connellsville Area schools.

In announcing his legislation, Krieger referred to the suits filed last year by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and anonymous students and parents over the monuments at New Kensington-Arnold and Connellsville Area schools.

Plaintiffs who want to remain anonymous should have to show “solid evidence” that they would be physically harmed if their identity is revealed, Krieger said. An anonymous plaintiff should have the “courage and convictions” to stand up publicly for their beliefs, he said.

In Western Pennsylvania, religion zealots enjoy having sympathetic ears in local elected government. One of those elected officials has written publicly that local governments should not cave to demands form the Freedom From Religion Foundation. That official wrote that, by not caving, local governments will force the complainants in church-state separation cases to file suit, thereby causing their identities to be revealed. I find that thinking revolting, since identification of such Plaintiffs in small communities will cause them to suffer intimidation by religion zealots.

[Hugabear]

7. And yet we're supposed to be worried about sharia law

These idiots don't realize how much they have in common with their Islamic extremist counterparts.

[Orrex]

8. I live in western PA and I'm afraid to reveal my atheism for that same reason

[John1956PA]

9. I live in a small Western Pennsylvania town which has been a flashpoint in such an issue.

The sense of pending intimidation if one reveals his atheism is palpable.

[Orrex]

11. Indeed

In casual conversation, the baseline assumption is that everyone must be a hard-right Christian bigot.

[bullwinkle428]

10. The Taliban really are role models for these whack-a-doodles.

[zwyziec]

12. www.ffrf.org

I joined the ffrf many years ago as an advocate of the separation of church and state and in support of the legal actions the ffrf takes. I encourage all readers here on DU to also join. Membership is a mere $40 per year and you will receive their monthly news paper which comes in a non-descript mailing.

Or for $1000 you can become a life time member.

I also attended a debate here at George Fox University between Dan Barker of the FFRF and a local evangelical. Dan won hands down in a formal debate with a very active and lively audience.

Support the first amendment and join the Freedom From Religion Foundation at www.ffrf.org

Zwyziec

[kiri]

13. separation of C&S--50th anniversary of Penna decision

https://www.au.org/church-state/may-2013-church-state/featured/ellerys-epic-exploit

http://thehumanist.org/may-june-2013/awesome-anniversary/

[Logical]

20. Great group. I have written an article for the newspaper also. Every Atheist should join. n-t

[gtar100]

14. I can safely assume that those who respond with such violent intent never read the New Testament

with any intention of putting it into practice. Religion for them is more of a social identity than a philosophy or teaching. I'm lead to the conclusion that Christianity, despite its positive qualities, is really a failure as a spiritual path. The institution has always usurped the teachings of Jesus for the vast majority of its followers. Conformity has been more important than understanding. Really tragic since there is definitely some good stuff there. But I believe there are far better alternatives and we would be better off without it.

[TeamPooka]

15. I pity anyone who hurts my pets or threatens my family.

[Iliyah]

16. Don't devil worshipers

kill animals? These so called "Christians" are not, they cherish evil too much. Hucklebee, Rev. Pat, and the rest of GOPers.

[Doc_Technical]

17. Speaking of religion:

I was surfing the radio dial when I came across This song playing
on a religious station and the title and words were disturbing to
say the least.
The song is called "Our God (is Greater)"

I assume that this means their God is of greater physical dimensions as well.

[Phillip McCleod]

18. that's some fucked up shit. \n

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. They despise the other two elements of it as much

Free press and assembly.

I fear liberals hate the free press too.

[ck4829]

21. Take away their special rights and the "love the sinner but hate the sin" evaporates pretty quickly

[Initech]

23. What is happening? What country am I living in? America or Afghanistan?

Sometimes I wonder if our religious fundamentalists are any better than the ones we're fighting overseas.

[Lunacee_2013]

24. This quote is just....wow...

"Slam the shit out of the bitch". I wonder what Jesus would have to say to that person?