Epigraph:
There should be no compulsion in religion. Surely, right has become distinct from wrong; so whosoever refuses to be led by those who transgress, and believes in Allah, has surely grasped a strong handle which knows no breaking. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Al Quran 2:257)
US Supreme Court
By Lawrence Hurley
WASHINGTON, March 30 (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday left intact New York City’s ban on religious worship services inside school buildings after hours.
In a brief order, the court said it would not hear an appeal filed by the Bronx Household of Faith, a conservative Congregational church. The court’s action leaves intact an April 2014 ruling by the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld the ban.
The appeals court had said the New York City Board of Education’s regulation, created so the city would not be perceived as endorsing religious activity in a public forum, “was consistent with its constitutional duties.”
That court said the ban was a reasonable way to abide by the so-called Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which provides for separation of church and state.
The rule prohibits school buildings from being used for religious worship services or as houses of worship, but the city allows groups to use schools for non-religious activities.
The appeals court reversed a June 2012 decision from U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska, who permanently enjoined the city from enforcing the ban. Preska had held that allowing the worship services did not suggest that the school would be endorsing religion.
The case is Bronx Household of Faith v. Board of Education, U.S. Supreme Court, No. 14-354. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham)
Categories: Americas, Secularism, Separation of Church and State, United States
Shariah and Constitution: A Personal Journey
The decision seems to be hilarious in US perspective/tradition.
The question is if the separation of State and Mosque will mean the same way everywhere.
Would the public schools in Indonesia and other muslim countries will not be used for religious purposes if their constitution separates Sata and Religeon. Any thoughts ?
Why do we not make it clear what secularism is all about? And while some people take secularism as something too free and too anti religious!
Also – on one hand you put your name as Muslimtimes and put a Quranic verse to start with and the you raise slogan that you are promoting Secularism! Is it a new faith or the the faith of Quran? Why this duality and Why not SeclarTimes instead?
What will be changed if Ahmadiyya Islam comes in majority? Looks like The Muslim-Times will be happy to have no chnage and wont mind if Harams are madel Halals and Hlals are made Harams. (Smae sezx marriage may be taken as one example)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvKX16Eygs0&w=420&h=315%5D
One of the positive things that we can find in the US legal system is that it provides for all religions and faiths to grow separated from the Government affairs. It has been proven historically that the mixture of religion and governments turns easily to tiranny. That was the case with the Churches and even the Sultanates in many countries. True muslims should uphold the truth exposed in the verse taken from the Holy Qur’an in the beginning of the article. It is God’s word and not simple opinions after all…
A president may be a great wordly leader and i give these leaders due respect and credit but they are not a Khlaifa or a Prophet to be an authority on religious matters. Also I fully understand that government affairs needs to be just for all regardless of any faith – and faith and state’s common or Maroof decisions may go into separate streets but these streets still share the same crossings and one has to give way to the other.
The practical question is – what state of Madina was doing for muslims and for non muslim – how was it balancing its decisions. And Will Ahmadiyya majority not take its directions from Quran or it will just keep things as it? What about Adultery and Same sex Marriage and Interest and Intoxicating materials? Do you or would you really care. Is that what Massiah and Khalifa are wowing for? Something is missing here.