Andrew breaks down a lot of news, including some good news about drag bans in west Texas and absurd lawsuits against the Freedom From Religion Foundation. James Dobson’s death, Kim Davis’s bigotry, Tex. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s abuses of power, and Doug Wilson’s Christian Nationalism all get broken down. Plus, is ICE acting like the Gestapo? Andrew answers.
Episode Show Notes:
We covered Ryan Walters suing FFRF in episode 7. The decision booting Walters out of court is here.
My full talk at West Texas A&M is here. I begin dressing in drag around 28minutes in. The Fifth Circuit decision is here. You can support the Secular Student Alliance here.
A federal court rules that a bigot has a right to impose their anti-LGBTQ bigotry on orphans.
Andrew breaks down the case, Bates v. Paakseresht, with Sam Grover, a constitutional attorney at the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The majority in this case essentially ignored the rights of children and focused solely on the rights of this Christian bigot, represented by ADF.
Plus, a rapid fire round up of everything else that’s happening.
In the latest episode of the Cross Examiner podcast, we delve into a contentious legal battle that has significant implications for the separation of church and state in the United States. Our host, an attorney and atheist, interviews Sam Grover, Senior Counsel for Litigation at the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), to discuss their lawsuit challenging Louisiana's newly enacted law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom.
The episode opens with a strong statement from the host, highlighting the alarming rise of Christian nationalism and the misinformation fueling it. This sets the stage for a deep dive into the legal intricacies of the case. Sam Grover, who has been with FFRF for over a decade, provides a comprehensive overview of the coalition formed to challenge the law. This coalition includes heavyweights like the ACLU, ACLU of Louisiana, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, along with the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, which is offering pro bono services.
Grover explains the mechanics of how such a coalition operates, from vetting potential plaintiffs to drafting the complaint. He emphasizes the overwhelming response from Louisiana residents who are concerned about the law's implications, highlighting that the coalition's plaintiffs include not just atheists and agnostics but also Christians and members of minority religions.
One of the most compelling parts of the episode is the discussion about the real-world implications for plaintiffs. Grover recounts the harassment and threats faced by individuals who stand up against such unconstitutional laws, emphasizing the bravery of the plaintiffs involved in this case.
The discussion then shifts to the legal arguments against the law. Grover breaks down the claims under the First Amendment's Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause. He argues that the Louisiana law is a blatant constitutional violation, citing the Supreme Court's precedent in Stone v. Graham, which struck down a similar law in Kentucky in 1980. Despite the Supreme Court's recent shift away from the Lemon test, which was used in Stone v. Graham, Grover remains confident that the coercive nature of the law will render it unconstitutional.
The episode also touches on the broader implications of the Supreme Court's recent decisions, particularly the move towards a "history and tradition" test for Establishment Clause cases. Grover expresses concern about this shift but remains hopeful that the clear lack of historical precedent for such a law in public schools will work in their favor.
The interview concludes with a call to action for listeners to support FFRF and other organizations fighting for the separation of church and state. Grover encourages listeners to become members, highlighting the importance of collective action in safeguarding constitutional rights.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in constitutional law, religious freedom, and the ongoing battle against Christian nationalism. Grover's insights provide a clear understanding of the stakes involved and the legal strategies being employed to protect the First Amendment.
Introduction 00:00:00
Interview with Sam Grover 00:02:00
Background on FFRF and Legal Career 00:04:00
Details of the Louisiana Case 00:10:00
Legal Strategies and Challenges 00:20:00
Historical Context and Legal Precedents 00:30:00
Potential Outcomes and Future Implications 00:45:00
Closing Remarks 00:58:00 Interview:
You can use this guide to identify YouTube videos of the topics and speakers from the FFRF conference. Videos are being added to YouTube gradually, so if the one you seek is not there initially, try again later. Here's the FFRF channel.
"The Canary in the Coal Mine: What Does It Mean to Lose a Constitutional Right?"
Mary Ziegler
professor, University of California-Davis
"The Tiny, Titanic Act of Telling the Truth"
Kate Cohen
Student Essay Winners
Luci Green
Skylar Blumenauer
Michelle Liao
2023 Legal Highlights,
Rebecca Markert
Legal Director, & legal staff
FFRF Action Fund Reports
Senior Policy Council Ryan Jayne,
Director of Governmental Affairs Mark Dann
Henry Zumach Freedom From Religious Fundamentalism Award
Jen Castle
National Director of Planned Parenthood
U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan Address
"The Age of Appeasement"
Jeremiah Camara
filmmaker
Student Activist Awards:
Marcus Stovall
Bear Bright
introduced by local drag queens Bryanna Banx$ & Latina Envy
"American Crusade”
Andrew Seidel
VP of Strategic Communications, Americans United for Separation of Church & State
"The Flag and The Cross”
Samuel L. Perry
professor, University of Oklahoma
Champion of the First Amendment "Christians Against Christian Nationalism"
Amanda Tyler
Executive Director, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
Secular Legislative Panel:
Minn. state Rep. Mike Freiberg Minn.
state Rep. Athena Hollins
Wis. state Sen. Kelda Roys
"The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy"
Dr. Robert P. Jones
CEO, PRRI
Clarence Darrow Civil Liberties Award: "A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution”
"The Religious Right has tried to co-opt education, and many of its tenets are outrageous and in need of forceful rejection. Among its most malodorous features are its homophobic, anti-Darwinian, anti-mental health and social-emotional learning, book bans, topic prohibitions, and anti-mask and anti-vaccination sentiments and proclamations. "
Fairrington prayed in front of his congregation, stating, "Lord God, that you would inspire voters here in the state of California to cast their vote for the sanctity of life. Lord God, that they would get behind a conservative Christian candidate."…
"Christian nationalism is not patriotism," Tyler noted. "Patriotism is a healthy love of country; nationalism is an allegiance to country that demands supremacy over all other allegiances." She noted that "the Christian nation myth" necessarily downplays or ignores the role of indigenous communities, Black Americans, immigrant populations, religious minorities and secular Americans because they "undercut the false narrative that the U.S. is special because it was founded by and for white Christians."…
Three of FFRF's student essay winners joined us at FFRF's 2022 National Convention to read their essays. The three winners who joined in us San Antonio are Marcus Brown, Caleb Buell and Ethan Haight.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation announces that its 45th national convention will meet in San Antonio at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk, 123 Losoya St., on Friday, Oct. 28 through Sat., Oct. 30, followed by Sunday morning membership and state representative meetings. https://ffrf.org/outreach/convention
