US judge bans Christian car plate

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US judge bans Christian car plate

A US judge has ordered South Carolina not to issue a vehicle number
plate with a Christian image and slogan.

The state legislature had approved a licence plate with a cross in
front of a stained glass window and the words "I Believe" written
along the top.

District Judge Cameron Currie said that the plate violated the First
Amendment, which enshrines the separation of church and state.

A similar bid by a group in Florida last year did not pass state lawmakers.

'Unconstitutional'

The case was brought by Americans United, which backs the separation
of church and state, on behalf of several individuals and Hindu and
American-Arab groups.

full article:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/ 8353598.stm

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Greek Church acts on crucifix ban
By Malcolm Brabant
BBC News, Athens

The Greek Orthodox Church is urging Christians across Europe to unite in an appeal against a ban on crucifixes in classrooms in Italy.

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled last week that the presence of crucifixes violated a child's right to freedom of religion.

Greece's Orthodox Church fears the Italian case will set a precedent.

It has called an emergency Holy Synod meeting for next week to devise an action plan.

Although the Greek Orthodox Church has been at odds with Roman Catholicism for 1,000 years, the judicial threat to Christian symbols has acted as a unifying force.

The European Court of Human Rights found that the compulsory display of crucifixes violated parents' rights to educate their children as they saw fit and restricted the right of children to believe or not to believe.

'Worthy symbols'

The head of the Greek Church, Archbishop Ieronymos, shares Catholic complaints that the court is ignoring the role of Christianity in forming Europe's identity.

It is not only minorities that have rights but majorities as well, said the archbishop.

One of his subordinates, Bishop Nicholas from central Greece, lamented that at this rate youngsters will not have any worthy symbols at all to inspire and protect them.

Football and pop idols are very poor substitutes, he said.

The Greek Church has ostensibly intervened in this case in response to an appeal by a Greek mother whose son is studying in Italy.

But without doubt it is concerned that its omnipotence in Greece is under threat.

A human rights group called Helsinki Monitor is seeking to use the Italian case as a precedent.

It has demanded that Greek courts remove icons of Jesus Christ from above the judge's bench and that the gospel no longer be used for swearing oaths in the witness box.

Helsinki Monitor is urging trade unions to challenge the presence of religious symbols in Greek schools.

The socialist government here is also considering imposing new taxes on the Church's vast fortune, but at the same time is urging it to do more to help immigrants and poor Greeks.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/eu...358027.stm

Published: 2009/11/12 23:17:25 GMT

[Shinobi]

Lets see how this one turns out *gets the popcorn and beers* .. press play nik
this is gonna be a good movie lol