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NEW YORK, Jan. 19 /U.S. Newswire/ –
The American Jewish Congress, along with the American Jewish Committee, Baptist Joint Committee, and the Interfaith Alliance Foundation, today filed a friend-of the court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm Dec. 18, 2003 ruling of the United States Court of Appeals For The Sixth Circuit calling a public display of the Ten Commandments on state government property a violation of the Establishment Clause.
Last month, AJCongress filed a friend of the court brief in support of the petitioner in the case of Van Orden vs. Perry, the Second case of Ten Commandments display on government property that the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear this year.
Marc Stern, AJCongress General Counsel, said, “Unlike the case in Texas, McCreary County made an effort to camouflage the 10 Commandments with unrelated secular documents. It’s a sham not worthy of credence by the court, and we hope the courts will see right through this smokescreen.”
The essence of the brief filed today, is:
– When government displays a sacred text without a note or comment, it seemingly endorses the religion to which the text would be sacred. There are multiple versions of the Commandments, but in every case this display adopts a view within the broadest tradition of one religion, making it a violation of The Supreme Court rulings that prohibit government from engaging in any activity that tends to give preferential treatment to any religious belief. –
The challenge to the Ten Commandments display on three McCreary County, Kentucky courthouse walls was successfully made in The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky at London, and a ruling was entered on May 5, 2000. It was upheld with and order granting a supplemental preliminary injunction on June 22, 2001. McCreary County appealed the case to the Supreme Court and on Oct. 12, 2004, the High Court agreed to hear the case.
The American Jewish Congress is a membership association of Jewish Americans, organized to defend Jewish interests at home and abroad, through public policy advocacy, in the courts, Congress, the executive branch and state and local governments. It also works overseas with others who are similarly engaged.
The American Jewish Congress, along with the American Jewish Committee, Baptist Joint Committee, and the Interfaith Alliance Foundation, today filed a friend-of the court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm Dec. 18, 2003 ruling of the United States Court of Appeals For The Sixth Circuit calling a public display of the Ten Commandments on state government property a violation of the Establishment Clause.
Last month, AJCongress filed a friend of the court brief in support of the petitioner in the case of Van Orden vs. Perry, the Second case of Ten Commandments display on government property that the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear this year.
Marc Stern, AJCongress General Counsel, said, “Unlike the case in Texas, McCreary County made an effort to camouflage the 10 Commandments with unrelated secular documents. It’s a sham not worthy of credence by the court, and we hope the courts will see right through this smokescreen.”
The essence of the brief filed today, is:
– When government displays a sacred text without a note or comment, it seemingly endorses the religion to which the text would be sacred. There are multiple versions of the Commandments, but in every case this display adopts a view within the broadest tradition of one religion, making it a violation of The Supreme Court rulings that prohibit government from engaging in any activity that tends to give preferential treatment to any religious belief. –
The challenge to the Ten Commandments display on three McCreary County, Kentucky courthouse walls was successfully made in The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky at London, and a ruling was entered on May 5, 2000. It was upheld with and order granting a supplemental preliminary injunction on June 22, 2001. McCreary County appealed the case to the Supreme Court and on Oct. 12, 2004, the High Court agreed to hear the case.
The American Jewish Congress is a membership association of Jewish Americans, organized to defend Jewish interests at home and abroad, through public policy advocacy, in the courts, Congress, the executive branch and state and local governments. It also works overseas with others who are similarly engaged.