1st Amendment Thread

[SuburbanFarmer]

Ummmm yeah. Apparently, we have a national religion now.

O, goody! Which one?

The one that President Pence chooses, I guess.

[Alexander PhiAlipson]

Ummmm yeah. Apparently, we have a national religion now.

O, goody! Which one?

The one that President Pence chooses, I guess.

No gay marriage, no abortion--is it Islam?

[SuburbanFarmer]

O, goody! Which one?

The one that President Pence chooses, I guess.

No gay marriage, no abortion--is it Islam?

If I had to guess, it'll be some select blend of Midwest-Protestant-Lutheran-But-With-Gay-Bashing-Jesus-Hates-Sinners-Fuck-The-Poor-Special-Ed-Vision-Of-What-Daddy-Told-Me-To-Think-I-Know-I-Killed-Three-People-But-I'm-Saved-Now-So-Go-Fuck-Yourself-ology.

[de officiis]

Trump order frees tax-exempt churches to be more politically active

... Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that allows tax-exempt churches to more actively participate in politics and could free religious organizations to deny employees insurance coverage for birth-control pills.

The order partially fulfils an oft-repeated campaign promise by Trump ... although he would need an act of Congress to rescind the underlying law ... known as the Johnson Amendment.

The order was widely praised by religious organizations that either felt hemmed in by the law or openly violated it, but others denounced it as putting women's health in jeopardy or weakening the U.S. tradition of separating church and state.

"We will not allow people of faith to be targeted, bullied or silenced any more," Trump said at a signing ceremony ....

"No one should be censoring sermons or targeting pastors," he said.

Trump's order directs the Internal Revenue Service to "alleviate the burden of the Johnson Amendment," the White House said in reference to a 1954 law sponsored by Lyndon Johnson, then a Texas senator who later became president.

Under that amendment, the tax code prohibits organizations that enjoy tax-free status from participating in a political campaign or supporting any one candidate for elective office.

The order also asks the government to issue rules that would allow religious groups ... to deny their employees insurance coverage for services that they oppose on religious grounds, such as birth-control pills.

[de officiis]

Four California Students Sue After Being Suspended For “Liking” Postings on Instragram

There is an important lawsuit that has been filed in California after four high school student were suspended for simply “liking” Instagram posts deemed racist. The lawsuit could force reconsideration of the erosion of free speech rights for students, including the widening scope of discipline for student speech outside of schools. School officials now believe that they have full license to punish students if their personal views outside of school do not conform with accepted values. This case did have troubling aspects that raised legitimate concerns (though these students were not the author of the posting). The question is one of authority to regulate speech outside of schools if they do not involve criminal threats.
...
... the lawsuit alleges that the school ordered an “atonement” exercise held after the return of the suspended students. This included 15 students including the four plaintiffs who were allegedly “lined up in full view” of the student body and “screamed at.” Two of the students were allegedly assaulted on their way out of the exercise.

"Atonement"? WTF? What, is this some new breed of mind control that is now being condoned and encouraged on college campuses?

[SuburbanFarmer]

Trump order frees tax-exempt churches to be more politically active

... Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that allows tax-exempt churches to more actively participate in politics and could free religious organizations to deny employees insurance coverage for birth-control pills.

The order partially fulfils an oft-repeated campaign promise by Trump ... although he would need an act of Congress to rescind the underlying law ... known as the Johnson Amendment.

The order was widely praised by religious organizations that either felt hemmed in by the law or openly violated it, but others denounced it as putting women's health in jeopardy or weakening the U.S. tradition of separating church and state.

"We will not allow people of faith to be targeted, bullied or silenced any more," Trump said at a signing ceremony ....

"No one should be censoring sermons or targeting pastors," he said.

Trump's order directs the Internal Revenue Service to "alleviate the burden of the Johnson Amendment," the White House said in reference to a 1954 law sponsored by Lyndon Johnson, then a Texas senator who later became president.

Under that amendment, the tax code prohibits organizations that enjoy tax-free status from participating in a political campaign or supporting any one candidate for elective office.

The order also asks the government to issue rules that would allow religious groups ... to deny their employees insurance coverage for services that they oppose on religious grounds, such as birth-control pills.

Oh thank god... we wouldn't want those poor, oppressed, minority Christians to feel their rights being suppressed by, ya know, paying for health insurance.

[jbird4049]

Four California Students Sue After Being Suspended For “Liking” Postings on Instragram

There is an important lawsuit that has been filed in California after four high school student were suspended for simply “liking” Instagram posts deemed racist. The lawsuit could force reconsideration of the erosion of free speech rights for students, including the widening scope of discipline for student speech outside of schools. School officials now believe that they have full license to punish students if their personal views outside of school do not conform with accepted values. This case did have troubling aspects that raised legitimate concerns (though these students were not the author of the posting). The question is one of authority to regulate speech outside of schools if they do not involve criminal threats.
...
... the lawsuit alleges that the school ordered an “atonement” exercise held after the return of the suspended students. This included 15 students including the four plaintiffs who were allegedly “lined up in full view” of the student body and “screamed at.” Two of the students were allegedly assaulted on their way out of the exercise.

"Atonement"? WTF? What, is this some new breed of mind control that is now being condoned and encouraged on college campuses?

You can have your free speech so long as it is approved speech.

[heydaralon]

How can you get suspended from school for activities that happen outside of school? And online to boot! If they were making bomb threats or something online I get that, but a person's speech as long as it is nonviolent, should not be a bearing on whether or not they can attend school.

[de officiis]

How can you get suspended from school for activities that happen outside of school? And online to boot! If they were making bomb threats or something online I get that, but a person's speech as long as it is nonviolent, should not be a bearing on whether or not they can attend school.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_v._Frederick

[de officiis]

Wisconsin-based atheist group sues Trump over church order

A Wisconsin-based atheist group has filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to strike down President Donald Trump's order easing enforcement of an IRS rule limiting religious organizations' political activity.

...

On Thursday the president issued an executive order directing the Treasury Department not to take "adverse action" against churches or religious organizations for political speech. He said he was giving churches their voices back.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation filed a lawsuit hours later. The Madison, Wisconsin-based group argues in the filing that the order is unconstitutional because it grants preferential treatment to religious organizations while secular groups must still abide by the law.

The group, known as FFRF, also argues that Trump lacks any power to overturn a legitimate law.

"As a result of President Trump's (order), churches and religious organizations will be able to blatantly and deliberately flaunt the electioneering restrictions ... including during the upcoming 2018 elections, unlike secular non-profits, including FFRF," the lawsuit states.