ACLU Supports Religious Freedom?
crossposted at:
Maggie’s Notebook
Conservative Thoughts
Okay, now I’m confused. As the links and excerpts below indicate, it seems the ACLU is supporting religious freedom and at the same time ignoring their long standing effort to eliminate religion using their questionable arguments on separation of church and state. Gee, wouldn’t a police department be viewed by the ACLU as the ’state’? And wouldn’t wearing a beard for religious reasons while working as a police officer or detective violate the ACLU’s sensibilities on the issue of separation of church and state? And then there is the upcoming trial to determine if said officer will be allowed to wear a yarmulke during work and the ACLU attorney is optimistic that his client, the officer, will be victorious. Is it just me or is the ACLU changing their tune on things religious? Someone tell me what they’re up to.
A Las Vegas Metro Police detective has won a partial victory in his fight to observe his religion. A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Detective Steve Riback, an Orthodox Jew, can wear a short, trimmed beard at work. But Federal Judge Roger Hunt ruled a jury must decide if Riback can wear a yarmulke on the job. He has been supported by the Nevada ACLU.
ORTHODOX JEW: Judge: Detective’s beard OK
“We knocked out seven of (Riback’s) nine claims,” Anderson said.
Lichtenstein said his client asked for two accommodations, and Hunt granted one while allowing the other to go to trial.
“We are gratified that the judge ruled that when the Police Department allows beards for medical reasons that they can’t discriminate by prohibiting them for religious reasons,” Lichtenstein said. “We look forward to the trial on the question of the yarmulke and believe that the outcome at trial will again be favorable to Detective Riback.”
Metro Detective Wins Court Victory Over Beard
from MoreWhat.com: the interesting point from a comment on the above site suggests a problem if two neighbors, one being Muslim and wearing a turban, would cause some conflict if the police were called and the cop was wearing a yarmulke. Another comment suggested if you don’t like the rules at your job, quit.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
A beard is a “manly” thing. A Yarmulke or Turban, not so much. Also, a beard is an American thing - not uniquely so, but beards are plentiful here and always have been.
I wonder what Ribeck was told about the “rules” when he applied for the Police Department. I don’t think you become a Detective right out of the Academy. Maybe his orthodoxy is a new thing.
It is a conundrum that today’s ACLU would be in this fight.
Maggie
Maggie’s Notebook
August 8th, 2008 at 12:09 am
I can believe that he became more openly or institutionally religious over time. I can understand both the employer wanting a particular appearance in their employees and an individual’s preference for their own appearance. But I’m really puzzled by the ACLU on this one. The only reason I can come up with so far is they want to diffuse the bad press over church and state policies and this case is rather benign. Maybe their just looking for a little political cover.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:45 am
The ACLU is on the side of this officer because he is NOT a Christian. Let a Christian cop want to hang a cross in his car and the ACLU would rather gargle molten glass than go to court on their behalf. That’s what the ACLU is up to.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:58 am
So the ACLU is for ’selective’ religious freedom?