Houston, Texas, Jun 30, 2011 / 07:08 pm (CNA). The Liberty Institute has filed a suit against the Department of Veterans Affairs, after it continuously tried to prevent veterans from including prayers in funeral services at the Houston National Cemetery.
"We do acknowledge that this is unconstitutional, this violates their rights.
We have brought a federal case and we trust the authorities will do the correct thing and set this policy," said Erin Leu, attorney for the Liberty Institute, in an audience with CNA on June 30.
She said the plant was optimistic that the Southern District Court of Texas will find in the veterans` favor and discover that the individual groups take a "constitutional right to reference God and Christ in their private speech."
On June 28, the Liberty Institute went to court on behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the National Memorial Ladies.
Leu explained that the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American League were told by the Houston National Cemetery director, Arleen Ocasio, not to include prayer in funeral services, unless they received her personal approval by submitting a written transcript of the appeal to her.
The National Memorial Ladies faced a similar setback. Ocasio said that the condolence cards given to the families of veterans could no longer include the words "God bless," nor could the women verbally convey the same content to grieving the families during funerals.
"We are grateful that these groups are coming forth and fight this unconstitutional suppression of their speech," said Leu.
If the court rules against the Veterans Affairs department, Leu believes that it will be "another clear message that the administration cannot discriminate against religious speech."
Federal District Judge Lynn N. Hughes presided over the June 28 hearing and gave the authorities an annex to react by July 15.
Judge Hughes closed a former case against the Veterans Affairs department on May 26 with a temporary restraining order, barring the section from preventing Pastor Scott Rainey from praying "in Jesus` name"during a Memorial Day service.
In the temporary restraint document, Judge Hughes said "The men buried in the cemetery fought for their fellow Americans - for us."
"Beyond (the) narrow, practical proprietary interest, the administration may not prescribe what people say."
Leu said the verdict was a "big ruling and a great victory."
"Pastor Rainey`s case is a clear message that the regime has no good to ban or discriminate his private religious speech," she asserted.
Leu explained that the veterans think the censorship "is appalling, because they fought in wars, risked everything for our freedoms."
"It`s so vile that the administration is saying that the freedoms fought for can no longer be good when honoring fellow soldiers," she insisted.
"It`s like a smack in the nerve to veterans and their families."
(End of story, my comments follow.)
Our administration is increasingly showing itself to be an opposition of the people. Thank God for the 2nd Amendment, we'll be in want of it shortly I fear.
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