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Dear John,
In a few short weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court will begin its next session on October 7. Before we look ahead at challenges to come, there is one recent court win worth celebrating -- and learning from, as it was an incomplete victory.
On June 20, in a strong majority decision, seven of the nine Supreme Court justices voted to protect the Peace Cross in Bladensburg, Maryland as a memorial on public land.
"Veterans memorials, cemetery headstones, and patriotic monuments throughout our country are safer as a result of this ruling," said American Legion leader Brett Reistad, whose attorneys defended the memorial. Family Research Council backed up the veterans group.
FRC's amicus brief to the court explained that religion has a natural, proper, and essential role in American public life and the life of our military. Supreme Court justices agreed (to a point) ... noting in their opinion how military honors include the Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Cross!
However, even this victory was limited in scope, leaving the futures of many more public expressions of faith up for debate. I'll explain further as we go on.
FRC remains one of few voices on Capitol Hill speaking out for the rights of all Americans to live according to our beliefs. And we need your help to fuel our mission for the season ahead.
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How did this case begin? In 1925, the community of Bladensburg, Maryland and the American Legion completed a memorial to fallen heroes: a 40-foot granite-and-concrete cross.
In total, 49 local men -- farmers, professors, surgeons, and others -- never came home to this small town after fighting in World War I. The Peace Cross stood for over 80 years as a tribute to their ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their families, community, and nation.
Over recent years, secularists have repeatedly turned to the courts in their quest to rid the public square of religion. Seven years ago, an atheist legal advocacy group challenged the Peace Cross for supposedly violating the separation of church and state -- a concept which does not appear in the Constitution but instead finds its roots in an out-of-context quote from Thomas Jefferson.
This past year, the case made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Though religious liberty prevailed, the ruling left U.S. policies on public displays of religious symbols "in chaos" -- to quote the conservative justices who wrote a separate opinion.
An antiquated legal doctrine called the Lemon Test still allows judges "to reach almost any result in almost any case" regarding Americans' religious freedoms. It makes a mockery of our Founders' original intent: to protect the free exercise of religion.
More battles for religious freedom are on the horizon. Relying on a biblical worldview requires us to speak truth and stand firm -- but we can only do it with your ongoing support. Just weeks before the next Supreme Court term, could you help us at this crucial time?
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Following the ruling on the Peace Cross, FRC released a statement that was picked up widely in the national press.
"This case reveals the incredible importance of having justices on the bench who view the Constitution as originalists," I stated.
The Supreme Court remains divided, with several liberal activist-judges pushing to create policies out of thin air -- rather than interpret laws in light of the U.S. Constitution.
When the next vacancy occurs on the Supreme Court, replacing that justice will be a contentious Capitol Hill battle... perhaps the most important of our lifetimes.
FRC is gearing up to respond with truth and accurate analysis regarding any future court nomination battle. The clash of ideas will play out in the media and in the halls of power.
Thanks to friends like you who back our mission, FRC has stood for decades as your Christian voice on Capitol Hill. Today, whether you give one dollar, the average gift of $80, or larger if you have that ability, we commit to report back on our stewardship.
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