FFRF Sues To Prevent Texas Governor Rick Perry’s Prayer Event

…and we have the Westboro Baptist Church on our side.

Last three posts deal with fundraisers. I knew moving to Patheos was a mistake 🙂

Even though Perry is a public official, he is still also a private citizen, and has the right to gather and pray with whomever he wants. As long as no tax dollars are spent on this project and Perry is acting in an unofficial capacity, I’m not sure the FFRF has cause in this. The voters will have to judge how foolishly he’s wasted there time at the next election, although being Texas they will probably crown him emperor.

Even though Perry is a public official, he is still also a private citizen, and has the right to gather and pray with whomever he wants. As long as no tax dollars are spent on this project and Perry is acting in an unofficial capacity, I’m not sure the FFRF has cause in this. The voters will have to judge how foolishly he’s wasted there time at the next election, although being Texas they will probably crown him emperor.

wait, how many are attending?
ohhhh shhiiiii

wait, how many are attending?
ohhhh shhiiiii

It’s not obvious or clear that this is a church/state violation if as you have written it is paid for by a private organization. Don’t get me wrong, this event is divisive and not one a governor should be promoting or involved in. It’s a good reason I hope he doesn’t end up president one day. But even governors are allowed to be morons in their personal life. If he used resources in his role as Texas governor to organize this event, I’m all with you on shutting this down. 

It’s not obvious or clear that this is a church/state violation if as you have written it is paid for by a private organization. Don’t get me wrong, this event is divisive and not one a governor should be promoting or involved in. It’s a good reason I hope he doesn’t end up president one day. But even governors are allowed to be morons in their personal life. If he used resources in his role as Texas governor to organize this event, I’m all with you on shutting this down. 

You should hear the baying by the Christians on facebook in my area when the local news posted an article about it. xD

You should hear the baying by the Christians on facebook in my area when the local news posted an article about it. xD

As long as no tax dollars are spent on this project and Perry is acting
in an unofficial capacity, I’m not sure the FFRF has cause in this.

According to the complaint:

The defendant, Governor Rick Perry, is the Governor of the State of Texas and he
is sued on the basis of actions that he has taken and is imminently going to take as Governor, including the issuance of an official proclamation that bears the State Seal of the State of Texas and public appeals to participate in the August 6 prayer rally.

As long as no tax dollars are spent on this project and Perry is acting
in an unofficial capacity, I’m not sure the FFRF has cause in this.

According to the complaint:

The defendant, Governor Rick Perry, is the Governor of the State of Texas and he
is sued on the basis of actions that he has taken and is imminently going to take as Governor, including the issuance of an official proclamation that bears the State Seal of the State of Texas and public appeals to participate in the August 6 prayer rally.

As long as none of his staff time or other state resources are being used for the event, then I can see it possibly passing muster.

I read somewhere that the Texas state seal was being used, but I can’t find that photo right now.  The video he made didn’t show it.

As long as none of his staff time or other state resources are being used for the event, then I can see it possibly passing muster.

I read somewhere that the Texas state seal was being used, but I can’t find that photo right now.  The video he made didn’t show it.

As long as none of his staff time or other state resources are being used for the event, then I can see it possibly passing muster.

I read somewhere that the Texas state seal was being used, but I can’t find that photo right now.  The video he made didn’t show it.

I’ll be attending the protest on 6 August. Item 14 of the FRFF’s original complaint filed states that as governor, Rick “The Hair” Perry used the state seal in his original proclamation for “The Response”. And Governor Perry also affixed “In official recognition given” to his signature. Now, I’m no legal scholar but the state seal and ‘official recognition’ seem to be pretty big violations of the first amendment. 

I’ll be attending the protest on 6 August. Item 14 of the FRFF’s original complaint filed states that as governor, Rick “The Hair” Perry used the state seal in his original proclamation for “The Response”. And Governor Perry also affixed “In official recognition given” to his signature. Now, I’m no legal scholar but the state seal and ‘official recognition’ seem to be pretty big violations of the first amendment. 

I am inclined to agree with this. The establishment clause states congress shall make no law towards establishment. Perry is 1) not congress and 2) not making a law.

I am inclined to agree with this. The establishment clause states congress shall make no law towards establishment. Perry is 1) not congress and 2) not making a law.

…And there are certainly some crazies scheduled to be at this here meeting: http://youtu.be/9WtJz_wj1JU

The lawsuit is needed. 
The state website http://governor.state.tx.us/news/proclamation/16247/  is way over the top, stating:

In
the spirit of the Book of Joel, Chapter 2, Verses 15-16, I urge a solemn
gathering of prayer and fasting. As those verses admonish: “15 Blow the
trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly… 16 Gather the
people, consecrate the assembly…” As Jesus prayed publicly for the
benefit of others in John 11:41-42, so should we express our faith in this way.

I don’t care if Perry attends the prayer rally (as a private citizen), it
is the use of the state website to proselytize in the name of Jesus that needs
to be stopped.
 

The lawsuit is needed. 
The state website http://governor.state.tx.us/news/proclamation/16247/  is way over the top, stating:

In
the spirit of the Book of Joel, Chapter 2, Verses 15-16, I urge a solemn
gathering of prayer and fasting. As those verses admonish: “15 Blow the
trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly… 16 Gather the
people, consecrate the assembly…” As Jesus prayed publicly for the
benefit of others in John 11:41-42, so should we express our faith in this way.

I don’t care if Perry attends the prayer rally (as a private citizen), it
is the use of the state website to proselytize in the name of Jesus that needs
to be stopped.
 

Sorry about the terrible spacing.  A preview button would be nice!

Sorry about the terrible spacing.  A preview button would be nice!

Sorry about the terrible spacing.  A preview button would be nice!

Sorry about the terrible spacing.  A preview button would be nice!

Sorry about the terrible spacing.  A preview button would be nice!

Scratch this, I’m dumb and forgot my Incorporation Doctrine from HighSchool Social Studies.

While I usually admire FFRF greatly, I think they’re in the wrong on this one. Yes, a lawsuit is just fine, but they should not be demanding an injunction against Perry’s participation in the event, they should be demanding an injunction against his using state resources to promote the event and a ruling to order him to repay the state for any taxpayer money wasted promoting the event.

While I usually admire FFRF greatly, I think they’re in the wrong on this one. Yes, a lawsuit is just fine, but they should not be demanding an injunction against Perry’s participation in the event, they should be demanding an injunction against his using state resources to promote the event and a ruling to order him to repay the state for any taxpayer money wasted promoting the event.

While I usually admire FFRF greatly, I think they’re in the wrong on this one. Yes, a lawsuit is just fine, but they should not be demanding an injunction against Perry’s participation in the event, they should be demanding an injunction against his using state resources to promote the event and a ruling to order him to repay the state for any taxpayer money wasted promoting the event.

While I usually admire FFRF greatly, I think they’re in the wrong on this one. Yes, a lawsuit is just fine, but they should not be demanding an injunction against Perry’s participation in the event, they should be demanding an injunction against his using state resources to promote the event and a ruling to order him to repay the state for any taxpayer money wasted promoting the event.

While I usually admire FFRF greatly, I think they’re in the wrong on this one. Yes, a lawsuit is just fine, but they should not be demanding an injunction against Perry’s participation in the event, they should be demanding an injunction against his using state resources to promote the event and a ruling to order him to repay the state for any taxpayer money wasted promoting the event.

If the FRFF lawsuit stops the tent revival, the fundies will just scream about judicial activism and act all persecuted, as usual. I’ll be at the protest of the event, giving away these t-shirts in return for a $15 donation to PFLAG. 

It will be an exciting day inside Reliant Stadium at the debut performance of Gov. Hairhead and the Homophobes. They’ll start promptly at 10AM by stoning a couple of adulterers and a few of David Vitter’s prostitutes. Then at noon, instead of lunch (they’re fasting) they’ll find a few disobedient kids in attendance and stone them too. Finally, the revival wraps up at 5pm at which time they’ll burn a witch. Yee Ha!

If the FRFF lawsuit stops the tent revival, the fundies will just scream about judicial activism and act all persecuted, as usual. I’ll be at the protest of the event, giving away these t-shirts in return for a $15 donation to PFLAG. 

It will be an exciting day inside Reliant Stadium at the debut performance of Gov. Hairhead and the Homophobes. They’ll start promptly at 10AM by stoning a couple of adulterers and a few of David Vitter’s prostitutes. Then at noon, instead of lunch (they’re fasting) they’ll find a few disobedient kids in attendance and stone them too. Finally, the revival wraps up at 5pm at which time they’ll burn a witch. Yee Ha!

If the FRFF lawsuit stops the tent revival, the fundies will just scream about judicial activism and act all persecuted, as usual. I’ll be at the protest of the event, giving away these t-shirts in return for a $15 donation to PFLAG. 

It will be an exciting day inside Reliant Stadium at the debut performance of Gov. Hairhead and the Homophobes. They’ll start promptly at 10AM by stoning a couple of adulterers and a few of David Vitter’s prostitutes. Then at noon, instead of lunch (they’re fasting) they’ll find a few disobedient kids in attendance and stone them too. Finally, the revival wraps up at 5pm at which time they’ll burn a witch. Yee Ha!

If the FRFF lawsuit stops the tent revival, the fundies will just scream about judicial activism and act all persecuted, as usual. I’ll be at the protest of the event, giving away these t-shirts in return for a $15 donation to PFLAG. 

It will be an exciting day inside Reliant Stadium at the debut performance of Gov. Hairhead and the Homophobes. They’ll start promptly at 10AM by stoning a couple of adulterers and a few of David Vitter’s prostitutes. Then at noon, instead of lunch (they’re fasting) they’ll find a few disobedient kids in attendance and stone them too. Finally, the revival wraps up at 5pm at which time they’ll burn a witch. Yee Ha!

If the FRFF lawsuit stops the tent revival, the fundies will just scream about judicial activism and act all persecuted, as usual. I’ll be at the protest of the event, giving away these t-shirts in return for a $15 donation to PFLAG. 

It will be an exciting day inside Reliant Stadium at the debut performance of Gov. Hairhead and the Homophobes. They’ll start promptly at 10AM by stoning a couple of adulterers and a few of David Vitter’s prostitutes. Then at noon, instead of lunch (they’re fasting) they’ll find a few disobedient kids in attendance and stone them too. Finally, the revival wraps up at 5pm at which time they’ll burn a witch. Yee Ha!

I messed up the linkie on my prior post (I blame teh gayz.)

This is the correct link to a pic of the shirts I’ll have at the protest: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=620126&l=203d7e3146&id=100000166035841

I messed up the linkie on my prior post (I blame teh gayz.)

This is the correct link to a pic of the shirts I’ll have at the protest: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=620126&l=203d7e3146&id=100000166035841

I messed up the linkie on my prior post (I blame teh gayz.)

This is the correct link to a pic of the shirts I’ll have at the protest: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=620126&l=203d7e3146&id=100000166035841

Even if no tax money he used, the event is promoted as prayer to solve the state’s problems. That’s extremely questionable and suggests it’s an official state-sanctioned event

 This is the problem.  I don’t believe any state resources are being used
and all I have seen Perry do is use his title in advertising paid for
by private funds.  I also haven’t seen the seal.  I suppose the question is whether or not the use of
an elected title (as opposed to an earned or bestowed title) is enough
to violate separation?  It will be interesting to see what comes out of
this one.

 This is the problem.  I don’t believe any state resources are being used
and all I have seen Perry do is use his title in advertising paid for
by private funds.  I also haven’t seen the seal.  I suppose the question is whether or not the use of
an elected title (as opposed to an earned or bestowed title) is enough
to violate separation?  It will be interesting to see what comes out of
this one.

 This is the problem.  I don’t believe any state resources are being used
and all I have seen Perry do is use his title in advertising paid for
by private funds.  I also haven’t seen the seal.  I suppose the question is whether or not the use of
an elected title (as opposed to an earned or bestowed title) is enough
to violate separation?  It will be interesting to see what comes out of
this one.

 This is the problem.  I don’t believe any state resources are being used
and all I have seen Perry do is use his title in advertising paid for
by private funds.  I also haven’t seen the seal.  I suppose the question is whether or not the use of
an elected title (as opposed to an earned or bestowed title) is enough
to violate separation?  It will be interesting to see what comes out of
this one.

Bob, why do u blame the Gayz on your typing fuckup ??

Bob, why do u blame the Gayz on your typing fuckup ??

David, I’m making fun of the Catholics for saying that teh gayz are “forcing” them to stop helping people, and acting all persecuted because they can no longer support their discrimination using taxpayer dollars. 

David, I’m making fun of the Catholics for saying that teh gayz are “forcing” them to stop helping people, and acting all persecuted because they can no longer support their discrimination using taxpayer dollars. 

David, I’m making fun of the Catholics for saying that teh gayz are “forcing” them to stop helping people, and acting all persecuted because they can no longer support their discrimination using taxpayer dollars. 

David, I’m making fun of the Catholics for saying that teh gayz are “forcing” them to stop helping people, and acting all persecuted because they can no longer support their discrimination using taxpayer dollars. 

David, I’m making fun of the Catholics for saying that teh gayz are “forcing” them to stop helping people, and acting all persecuted because they can no longer support their discrimination using taxpayer dollars. 

well technically he is using state web servers to convey his message. Texas tax payers pay to run those servers. Not to nit pick or anything.

well technically he is using state web servers to convey his message. Texas tax payers pay to run those servers. Not to nit pick or anything.

The usual Friendly Atheist lurkers, prior to moving to this site, used some of the “Hell Fire and Brimstone” rhetoric of the religious, used to try and scare sheeple into giving donations to their ministries or converting to said mythos, in a sarcastic tone which is not meant to be taken literally but in a humorous manner .  

You know like the tornado that destroyed Joplin, Missouri “was gods punishment for Gay Marriage” or that the earth quakes in Japan, Chile, and Haiti were “punishment from god”, or like the Westboro Baptist Church (the Christians – a point of contention for some) says “Dead soldiers are god’s” punishment.

For those who don’t know the difference of “God” and “god” as used here denotes the same term as “god”.  It matters because when you understand why you reason and understand that all of the other “gods” don’t exist then you will know why I go one further: one less “god” existing.  NO EVIDENCE other than man made dogma.  Show me the evidence then I will believe…

I wonder who’s paying for security? The City of Houston would be my guess. Police are expensive!

I wonder who’s paying for security? The City of Houston would be my guess. Police are expensive!

I wonder who’s paying for security? The City of Houston would be my guess. Police are expensive!

I keep wondering about the drought in TX, and call for prayer for rain. That doesn’t seem to have worked. TX is pretty dry right now.

Perry created an official proclamation to promote this event. He created a video promoting it, that starts with “This is Governor Rick Perry…”  He invited the other 49 governors to this event.  In his videos, he makes clear that he can’t do his job. He invites everyone to go to this event, so his job can be done. In fact, he doesn’t think the government can do it’s job at all, without his religion being a part of every solution. He didn’t say the word “maybe” during any of that video. Seems like this will not only be a prayer event, but a government solution meeting, to come up with government policy, through prayer. A government meeting, essentially.

Add it all up. I’m sure there’s more. Of course this event was his idea, and he’s riding high on a wave of popularity among Texas voters, so I doubt any judge is going to prevent him from going to his own event, or will prevent the event from happening. But one thing’s for sure: We need to gripe. Sometimes they say “Well you never complained before, so it must be okay.”

Waaahhh!  Waaahhh!  D-don’t let him do it, Judge!  Don’t let that man Perry go to that meeting.  Waahh!   He might say – snivel snivel – that word God in public.  Waahh!  I don’t want him to, Judge.  Waahh!  I don’t like that.  snivel snivel  Please don’t let him do it.  Waaaahhhhh!  Waaaaahhhhh!  Judge, make up a law that says – snivel snivel – that  man Perry can’t say what he wants to say.  I know you can do that.  Judges make up laws like that all the time.  Waaaaahhh! snivel snivel  Lots of kids in school are not allowed to write what they want to write, or even say what the want to say.  Make up a law like that for – snivel snivel – that awful man Perry.  Now that lots of kids can’t say what they want to say in school – waaaahhhh – snivel snivel – shouldn’t we work on the grown-ups?  Waaahhh  Judge, I hear people talk about God a lot.  Waaaaahhhhhh! – snivel snivel  I don’t like that.  I don’t want them to say it.  Nobody should say it.  Waah
Judge, let’s work on a law for grown-ups.  We can start with this guy Perry.  We can stop him, then we can stop other grown-ups.  snivel snivel Waaaahhhh! Waaaahhhh!
That’s what I want, Judge.  Give me what I want, Judge.  GIVE       ME      MY    WAY!!
Waaaahhhhh!  WAAAAHHHH!  WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!