AROUND THE STATES

Salvation Army Sued For Religious Discrimination

Current and former employees of the Salvation Army in New York are suing the organization, charging that the group took tax funds and imposed religious qualifications on its workers.

The 18 plaintiffs say they were forced to give the Salvation Army information about their personal religious beliefs and provide information about other employees' sexual orientations and church affiliations. Their case is being sponsored by the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU).

The Salvation Army, which is a religious denomination, receives millions in tax dollars every year to provide social services like childcare and aid to the homeless. Recently, some Army officials have expressed a desire to increase the sectarian character of their programs.

One Salvation Army employee, Mary Jane Dessables, told the Associated Press that she resented being told to divulge information about her religious beliefs. Many employees said they feared that the information was being collected so that gay workers and non-Christians could be fired.

"I feel it is my duty as a taxpayer to insist that the Salvation Army not be allowed to collect this information that may be used to discriminate against their employees," Dessables said.

"This case is not about the right of the Salvation Army to practice or promote its religion," said Donna Lieberman, NYCLU executive director. "They have every right to do so, but not with government money. The Salvation Army cannot use taxpayer money to practice religious discrimination against its social services employees." (Lown v. Salvation Army. Inc.)

Miss. Legislators Want Commandments, Beatitudes Posted

Blessed art the publicly pious politicians for they shall see reelection.

That seems to be the credo of some Mississippi legislators. The House of Representatives there has approved legislation allowing the Ten Commandments, "In God We Trust" posters and the Beatitudes of Jesus to be posted in public buildings.

The measure passed on a 94-16 vote March 10. As originally written, the bill mentioned only the Ten Commandments, but two representatives altered it to include "In God We Trust" and the Beatitudes - nine sayings of Jesus taken from the Sermon on the Mount.

Rep. Tommy Reynolds (D-Charleston) said the Beatitudes should be included because they often get "short shrift." Reynolds advised lawmakers not to worry about the constitutionality of the bill, remarking, "I think the Beatitudes will be there long after any court ceases to exist."

Only a few representatives spoke out against the proposal. "I don't need to carry a badge to prove I believe in God," said Rep. Willie Bailey (D-Greenville). "I don't need to post the Ten Commandments to follow them. This bill is going to violate the separation of church and state."

In Idaho, meanwhile, a proposal to display the Ten Commandments in the state capitol building has been rejected by the Senate State Affairs Committee by a 5-4 vote.

The proposal called for displaying the Decalogue alongside six other documents, including the Magna Carta and the preamble to the Idaho Constitution. But some lawmakers still had concerns.

"I want to err on the broad side of maintaining that separation [of church and state]," said Joe Stegner, assistant Republican floor leader. "This comes too close."

Prayer Services At Buffalo Public School Cancelled

Public school officials in Buffalo have ordered a principal to cancel her plans to begin daily prayer sessions.

On Feb. 20, Principal Ramona Thomas-Reynolds of West Hertel Academy sent a letter to parents stating that beginning March 1, "we will hold morning prayer/worship for any student, faculty, staff, parent or guardian who is interested," reported The Buffalo News.

Thomas-Reynolds' letter said the sessions would begin at 7:45 each day and would be open to anyone who wanted to take part. She did not check with her superiors before sending the letter. When school officials found out, they immediately cancelled the plan.

"She does a very good job at that school and is a very good principal," Superintendent Marion Canedo told the newspaper. "But like I often say, it's too bad we don't all have our doctorates in common sense."

Canedo directed Thomas-Reynolds to mail follow-up letters to parents explaining that the prayer sessions would not be held.

Copyright Americans United for Separation of Church and State Apr 2004
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