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1NEWS :rving Catholics in
Western North Carolina
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