No Bibles In Court

[PsalmsfortheLord]

A district court judge in Philadelphia recently dismissed a lawsuit filed by an atheist organization against the Pennsylvania State Legislature for passing a resolution designating 2012 as the "Year of the Bible." However, the judge described the resolution as "proselytizing and exclusionary" and suggested it was an election-year gimmick.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Conner dismissed the case Monday on the grounds of legislative immunity, but also chastised lawmakers for "pandering," calling their "Year of the Bible" resolution a "waste of legislative resources."

Conner told the court on Monday that he threw out the case because House members have "absolute legislative immunity" in passing such measures.

However, the judge added that he was unsure if the resolution should have been approved in the first place, saying that his ruling "should not be viewed as judicial endorsement for this resolution. It most certainly is not."

Pa. Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against 'Year of the Bible,' Calls Resolution a 'Waste'

 

[Nautilus]

Year of the Bible by lawmakers? WHat nonsensical religious right pandering in an election year. Disgusting.

 

[Dude653]

I dont understand a word of this

 

[Nautilus]

I dont understand a word of this

A bunch of politicians made a thing, naming this the year of the bible. A nonreligious grou[p tried to cancel it on the basis of separation of church and state Im assuming, and the judgment refused too. At least thats what i got from it.

 

[Nautilus]

Other links:

Huffington Post:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (RNS) A federal judge on Monday (Oct. 1) dismissed a lawsuit filed by an atheist group that challenged a "Year of the Bible" resolution passed early this year by Pennsylvania lawmakers.

Yet U.S. Middle District Judge Christopher C. Conner also questioned whether the resolution should have been adopted at all. The nonbinding resolution, introduced by state Rep. Rick Saccone, urges Pennsylvanians to read the Bible during 2012.

The judge dismissed the suit by the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation after concluding that House members have "absolute legislative immunity" in passing such measures.

Conner emphasized, however, that his decision to grant immunity "should not be viewed as judicial endorsement for this resolution. It most certainly is not."
"At worst, (the Bible resolution) is premeditated pandering designed to provide a re-election sound-bite for use by members of the General Assembly," Conner wrote.

He called the resolution's language "proselytizing and exclusionary," and said the measure "pushes the envelope" of the separation of church and state.

"At a time when the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania faces massive public policy challenges, these (government) resources would be far better utilized in meaningful legislative efforts for the benefit of all of the citizens of the commonwealth, regardless of their religious beliefs."



ABC News:
A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed by an organization that includes atheists and agnostics over a Pennsylvania House resolution declaring 2012 the "Year of the Bible" but criticized the language endorsed by lawmakers as "proselytizing and exclusionary."

U.S. District Judge Christopher Conner on Monday agreed with House Republicans that the suit filed by the Madison, Wis.-based Freedom from Religion Foundation should be dismissed on the grounds of legislative immunity.

But the judge suggested that the resolution approved in January was at worst "pandering designed to provide a re-election sound bite" and resources would be better used in "meaningful legislative efforts" to benefit all.

The Philadelphia Inquirer says House GOP members expressed satisfaction with the decision, and a foundation leader said he was glad that the judge acknowledged injury to nonbelievers.

 

[Nautilus]

So my point why are lawmakers wasting their time and our tax dollars, which pay their salaries, with making stupid resolutions like this.

 

[Dude653]

People should be prosecuted for frivolous lawsuits.

 

[Nautilus]

Lawmakers should be held accountable for frivolous resolutions

 

[JimJimmers]

U.S. District Judge Christopher Conner dismissed the case Monday on the grounds of legislative immunity, but also chastised lawmakers for "pandering," calling their "Year of the Bible" resolution a "waste of legislative resources."

I totally agree, it was a waste of legislative resources. Not their place to be declaring years the year of the Bible or Hadith or The Little Engine The Could for that matter.

It does make me wonder though, if the atheists had to testify against the legislators in court, would they have to be sworn in with their hand on a Bible?

 

[celestemekent]

Does anyone here actually know how much time was devoted to passing this resolution? Probably 10 minutes, would there possibly be any other legislation done that was not done because of that 10 minutes being used for this? If not then there was no time wasted. Its a resolution not a law come on folks, the sky did not fall because of it and it certainly had zero effect on those atheists. Why bother complaining over such fluff????