[bit.listserv.christia] O'Hair's onslaught.

BWA6067@TAMAGEN (02/08/90)

Elizabeth wrote:

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It has amazed me to hear many Christians actually voice
the opinion that we shouldn't force Christianity on people
who have their own beliefs, ie by prayer in school. Yet
aren't we called to spread his word? When you go to witness
to someone does it ever occurr to you *not* to because you
should respect their choice of belief?????????
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       I appreciate your concern, Elizabeth, but in the context of
       issues like prayer in public schools, it's not so much a
       matter of bold witnessing as it is legislating outward
       conformity to a particular religious standard.  Legislating
       prayer in public schools is vastly different from talking to
       someone individually--witnessing to them--about Christ.

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Madalyn Murry O'Hair, an atheist whose efforts successfully
eliminated the use of Bible reading and prayer from all public
schools 15 years ago, has been granted a Federal hearing in
Washington, D.C. on the subject of (F.C.C.). The petition,
R.H. 2493, would ultimately pave the way to stop the reading of
the Gospel on the air waves of America. She thook her petition,
with 27,000 signatures, to back her stand.

If her attempt is successful, all Sunday worship services being
broadcast, either by radio or television will stop.  Many elderly
people and shut-ins, as well as those recuperating from hospitalization
or illness, depend on radio and television to fulfill their worship
needs every week.
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       This is very worrisome, but it is something that I feel can
       be easily and sucessfully defended on Constitutional grounds.
       I don't know what legal basis Ms.O'Hair is using as grounds
       for her suit, but I imagine it has something to do with the
       regulatory monopoly the FCC (a federal agency) has on radio
       and TV transmission.  Her premise may be that an industry
       whose only legitimate regulation is on the federal level is
       itself a federal and publicly-controlled industry, in which
       case Constitutional precedent would require that sanction for
       a particular religious affiliation be removed.

       I'm not sure how much Constitutional precedent exists for an
       attack on her premise, but I feel certain that her premise
       could easily be dismantled, if the above is anywhere near
       accurate.  In keeping with religious and political freedom,
       however, if Ms. O'Hair feels this strongly about something,
       she deserves her day in court.  I rather suspect she will
       lose this one very badly.

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Madalyn is also campaigning to remove all CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS AND
CHRISTMAS SONGS AND CHRISTMAS CAROLS from public schools. You can
help at this time. We need 1,000,000 signed letters. This should
defeat Mrs. O'Hair and show that there are amny  CHRISTIANS ALIVE
AND WELL AND CONCERNED in our country. This petition is NO. 2493.
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       I don't find this quite so worrisome.  One thing that may
       come out of this is that the decision to allow or disallow
       such activities might be left to the states, which would
       allow more local and regional control over them.  But while I
       would fight the radio/TV thing to my dying breath, I don't
       see why defending Christmas songs and programs and carols in
       public schools is a priority.  If my children were being
       taught Rastafarianism through participation in pagan
       religious rituals at a public school, I would object
       vehemently.

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