Another attack on Christianity and our 1st amendment rights comes out of Colorado. The Bill of Rights and our Constitution are documents in place to protect us. Not only to protect us, but to ensure our God given rights to practice free speech. In no way is using the name of Jesus harmful.
A local pastor with Charis Christian Center in Colorado Springs says his church’s advertisements on transit benches using the word Jesus won’t be allowed anymore, because by allowing the reference to Jesus, the city would also have to allow hate messages, he’s been told. The bench messages have said “Celebrate JESUS,” “Experience JESUS,” and “JESUS is Lord.” The messages appear on 30 benches around the city, Perdue says. His advertising contract expires at the end of June, and he learned of the city’s decision to bar the word Jesus when he contacted the city to renew the contract.
Perdue has contacted a “national” law firm with a 90-percent win record at the Supreme Court, and the firm has agreed to take his case.
Update: Mountain Metro Transit just issued this statement on the advertising matter:
A recent citizen complaint about certain advertising on bus benches has caused City Transit staff to undertake careful review of both the advertising and Transit’s current advertising policy in relation to the requirements of the 1st Amendment’s Establishment Clause. The Establishment Clause prohibits the endorsement of a specific religion or its tenets. Transit is working with the Office of the City Attorney concerning the matter and Transit’s advertising policy going forward.
“I don’t like that at all,” Weinstein said when told of the city’s ban against the name Jesus. “I think that’s wrong. To me, this is a violation of their First Amendment rights. We would caution the city of Colorado Springs to prepare for a lawsuit. I don’t think this is one they’re going to win.” The danger, he says, is if you silence one faction of public expression, “where do you draw the line?” Perdue says he doesn’t agree with some messages he sees on signs, “but I’m not complaining.” “It’s just crazy,” he adds about the city’s decision. “That’s why our nation was founded.”
Another update will be provided as we learn more. Prayers for our nation.