According to a piece on NJ.com, an atheist group has filed suit to stop the Catholic blessing of animals at a county-run shelter, claiming the blessings violate the First and Fourth amendments.
Atheist group sues shelter over Catholic blessing of animals https://t.co/hH4HAsJQ3q pic.twitter.com/ztmTUJn02c
— WTOP (@WTOP) November 21, 2017
The event was held last month and is intended to honor Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
The lawsuit [by American Atheists Inc.] seeks an injunction against the county’s participation plus legal fees. It names Bergen County, the shelter and its director.
The lawsuit says the Teterboro shelter is using government resources to promote religious ceremonies. The shelter is run by the county’s Department of Health Services and receives money from the state.
My priest friend in NJ informs me there is no cost to anyone for performing these blessings. In fact, the blessing of the animals heightens awareness of the plight of homeless creatures.
— Muzz ? (@Nursemamacita) November 21, 2017
That’s fine. The problem arises if your priest friend uses government funds to perform the blessings, in which case it violates the establishment clause of the constitution
— Payam Saljoughian (@payamsal) November 21, 2017
He doesn’t use any funds – blessings are free and are literally a few sentences. I think the blessings are silly, but to sue over something that hurts nothing is ridiculous and hateful( unless the cats are Jewish- they might prefer a rabbi)
— Muzz ? (@Nursemamacita) November 21, 2017
Yep … the Establishment Clause prevents priests from establishing a state religion, which they’ll accomplish by volunteering their time to bless shelter animals.
You’re an awful group of people, @AmericanAtheist https://t.co/hcBSZAivAr
— Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) November 21, 2017
Why don’t you instead spend your time and resources on getting homes for all of these shelter animals, @AmericanAtheist
— Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) November 21, 2017
Is there anything at all these shitbags won't try to destroy, just because they hate religion? https://t.co/TKe1I0aHpH
— MisnomeredHoundinator (@manofmanychins) November 21, 2017
This is one of the stupidest things ever. https://t.co/oXIwMtdLj9
— Microaggressor ™ (@ILLfromMN) November 21, 2017
Is this satircal? https://t.co/lvjxo76YAz
— Rev. Mauldin ? (@Reverend_Ducati) November 21, 2017
No wonder people loathe atheists. I’m sorry, most of us aren’t like this, I swear. https://t.co/TjbZyDYrKq
— Heather (@hboulware) November 21, 2017
Saving the world from absolutely nothing harmful…..wtg jackasses https://t.co/8eEdtwD1ME
— ??Ty Koehn?? (@wildthang1471) November 21, 2017
This is why we can't have nice things https://t.co/iIBEH0orax
— Middle Class Anon (@MidClassRepub) November 21, 2017
What a pathetic group of losers. https://t.co/Yf4ulb741r
— Charlie (@CharlieJThomas) November 21, 2017
