Feb. 14, 1992

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in the Diocese

Volume

of Charlotte

For You...

his Bud's

Judge

Number 23 • February

14,

1992

Case To Supreme Court

Files

By JOANN

1

KEANE

Associate Editor

CHARLOTTE

District Court Judge is

North Carolina

William Constangy

it

unconstitutional for a public

official to

invoke God?" Weber feels

asks, "Is

Supreme Court.

this is

Attorneys for Constangy filed a Peti-

wants

taking his case to the

asking for the Supreme Court's consid-

principle of trying to put limits on the

Constangy

growing trend

asking the Supreme

is

down by

the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court

On

of Appeals in Richmond, Va. 24,

1

Oct.

99 1 the U. S Fourth Circuit Court ,

.

"There's no escaping religion in western or any society, said Weber.

"The attempt to do so is always going to enforce secularism that

of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling

n beauties at Elfrieda's Florists in Charlotte.

Pelone

Elizabeth Pelone arranges a dozen long

florists.

is

a parishioner

Photo by

JOANN KEANE

b End By

Human

Advocates Serving Evangelism,

ninety two years ago, with the birth of

explains, "Constangy opens court with a

exact practice

is

"I think the case presents important

as old as our Nation. In

and interesting questions," said Weber.

the tradition of opening courts with

The North Carolina Civil Liberties Union Legal Foundation has 30 days to respond to the Supreme Court, then

prayer and expresses reverence for God.

Constangy has time to file a reply to that

so,

Judge Constangy

at

gard for constitutional freedoms,

ines in parts of the world underscore the severity of the problem, she said.

a conference here

this past

is

Butcher, a law professor of Howard

Law

School in Washington,

"As long

used as a weapon, human rights

human

rights to education,

healthcare, she said.

"pittance"

It

employspends a

on education and a bundle on

military weapons.

In addition, the land of the free has

Conference

"shamefully" turned back refugees to coun-

k off the Southern Regional

Some 200

Amnesty International USA. mbers from

1 1

Southern

states

gathered

2am more about human rights violations

tries

nan rights

is

a worldwide

movement with

1

million

they have fled, said Butcher. "The

millions of people fleeing

from deportation

Particularly troublesome here and abroad is

the undermining of women and children,

and the dignity 'robbing practices

that

have

mbers working impartially toward the

kept women "at the bottom of the heap," she

ase of

said.

all

prisoners of conscience, fair

prompt trials for political prisoners and bnd to torture and executions. U.S.

mem-

400,000, up from 120,000 in the

with more than 50,000 in the

Tie majority

"Like the

fire

breathers of old,

rights suppressors

Butcher.

It

of conference participants

adults, reflecting

a surge in

human

have many heads," said

would take more than a "magi-

cian to conjure up" a course of action to fight

we

are not

considered

Butcher called on her

listeners to "leave

no stone unturned and go

I group as the result of several rock efit concerts in the last couple of years,

prisoners of consciences like a bulldog

n the opening speech, Butcher appealed o brticipants to carry forth the torch in their

human

This

human

and go forth

rights

after jailers'ttf

movement can

survive

to transform the world."

Introductory speeches were followed

by

of Foreign Military Police," "Race and the

Death Penalty" and

"Human

Rights Con-

cerns in Haiti and Peru."

only just begun," said Butcher,

The conference, which concluded Sunday with a performance by the monks of the

and other

Drepung Monastery, was coordinated by

0 itries are tolerated

by too many people,

Gerald Bone of the Charlotte Chapter.

willingness to trample

Constangy 's Petition Court, filed

tion,

to the

Supreme

against the North Carolina

Union Legal Founda-

poses two questions to the Supreme

Court.

"Does an 'offended observer' of an alleged violation of the Establishment

Amendment have

standing under Article

III to

challenge

that alleged violation?"

And, "Does the custom of a state judge to open each daily court-

district

room

session with a nonsectarian invo-

of the First

Amendment?"

"There are two separate issues before

Weber, associate counsel

said Walter

Speech Advocates. "The stand-

ing question asks

who

entitled to

is

challenge the establishment clause."

"What we hope question

is

do

to

in the first

establish (that) in

what you

an establishment case

more than just being offended."

is

A lot of

people are offended by things they think are unconstitutional,

"Someone

will object

Weber

says.

and make a rea-

sonable argument."

hsaid.

See 4assacres, tortures

s

said Sekulow.

need to bring

[pan rights are violated every day, and sive violations in both this

'

courtroom invocations and on the Judge's civil and religious liberties,"

for Free

workshops on such topics as "U.S. Training

The battle for human rights has not been

NCCLU

on both the long-standing tradition of

the court, with different significance,"

rights violations

for their actions.

reverse this obvious intolerance, to reject the

...

make oppressive governments account-

prts to abolish

and man-made fam-

See Supreme, Page 3

cation violate the Establishment Clause

without a compass."

Inesty International membership in this

V, it is

is

Supreme Court makes

are asking the Court to

Clause of the First

these violations, she said. "Yet,

Lth.

"We

Civil Liberties

are treated like flotsam of humanity."

rededicate themselves to the cause.

\mnesty International

b-

response. After the case in conference, the

Happy Valentine's Day!

hear him."

|ivered an impassioned speech Feb. 8 to

e young

its

The North Carolina Civil Liberties Union (NCCLU) filed suit even though the Judge compelled no one to agree with him or even to be present to

In the United States, people are denied basic

ment and

|i

ACLU claims great re-

not.

an Amnesty International board

'80s,

his court, preserves

prayer.

iekend.

I

sets the tone

Associate Editor

hasn't reached very far."

is

Christ.

That

non-sectarian invocation.

the decision whether to take the case or

lilance and commitment, said Goler

khip

man

began one thousand nine hundred and

suppress his right to express himself in

as food

liversity

in

cal-

North Carolina chapter sued the judge to

violations in this century of "un-

mber,

says.

CAROL HAZARD

lakable horrors" requires unwavering

licher,

The

endar of time used by civilized

Although the

Rights Violations

CHARLOTTE — Confronting human its

Fight

Weber

Jay Sekulow, an attorney for Chris-

and atmosphere for

Renew

hostile."

the start of his daily court session.

doing

amnesty Activists

is

1992 because Jesus was born

a certain year,"

brief,

at St. Patrick Cathedral.

"It is

against Constangy, barring his prayer at

tian of flowers and extra hours for

to root out historical rev-

erence to God.

Court to review the decision handed

lots

Judge

Constangys, but dealing with the broader

eration in reviewing the case.

Day means

to start with a prayer like

For Writ of Certiorari on Jan. 21

tion

entines

important not because every judge

Human

Rights, Page6

The impact of the second part, Weber

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Rachel Myatt, a

first

grader at

St.

Ann

School delivers hearts

and flowers for Valentines Day. Photo byJOANN KEANE


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Feb. 14, 1992 by Catholic News Herald - Issuu