TODO: Churches unite - Amicus Curiae and joinder applications sought - move your minister/ congregation - [ENJOY] [PEACE]

[Zenaan Harkness]

The fight is for all - YOUR right to accociate, YOUR right to believe
whatever the flip you wish to believe, YOUR right to express your
beliefs, to communicate in public and in private.

You think "the left" is going to protect you, that -you- are such a
virtuous atheist that you will be exempt from their purge?

You think THIS time it's going to be different, and socialism is
finally, finally going to work without the bloodshed?

Consider forwarding this to those who might take action in support of
our foundational rights.

(If you are short on time, perhaps read the last 3 paragraphs.)



   Justice Alito's Warning to America
      Leah Barkoukis @LeahBarkoukis Posted: Nov 13, 2020 4:30 PM
   https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2020/11/13/justice-alito-federalist-society-address-n2580025

      During a keynote address to the Federalist Society on Thursday,
      Justice Samuel Alito spoke of the "unimaginable restrictions on
      individual liberty" that have taken place during the coronavirus
      pandemic.

      He further warned that religious liberty is "in danger of becoming
      a second-class right."

      Alito pointed to cases where COVID-19 restrictions "blatantly
      discriminated against houses of worship," such as in Nevada, where
      the state "was unable to provide any justification for treating
      casinos more favorably than other houses of worship."

      What happened in Nevada proved to be part of a broader trend, he
      argued.

         The foremost example of this disfavor in the justice’s mind was
         the court’s 1990 decision in Employment Division v. Smith,
         https://casetext.com/case/employment-division-department-of-human-resources-of-oregon-v-smith
         written by Justice Antonin Scalia, which “cut back sharply” on
         free exercise by establishing that religious groups are usually
         not entitled to faith-based exemptions from neutral, generally
         applicable laws. Alito lauded Congress for passing, with near
         unanimous support, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of
         1993 to push back against this very decision. The Supreme Court
         is considering whether to overrule Smith this term in Fulton v.
         City of Philadelphia.
         http://scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/fulton-v-city-of-philadelphia-pennsylvania
         And the afternoon of Alito’s speech, the
         Catholic diocese in Brooklyn asked the court for emergency
         relief from New York’s coronavirus regulations similar to that
         previously sought by Calvary Chapel in Nevada.
         https://www.scotusblog.com/2020/11/brooklyn-catholic-diocese-asks-justices-to-block-limits-on-attendance-at-church-services/
         (SCOTUSblog)
         https://www.scotusblog.com/2020/11/at-federalist-society-convention-alito-says-religious-liberty-gun-ownership-are-under-attack/

      Questioning "whether our society will be inclusive enough to
      tolerate those with unpopular religious beliefs," he highlighted
      other recent examples such as "the protracted campaign against the
      Little Sisters of the Poor," Masterpiece Cakeshop, and the Ralph’s
      pharmacy case.
      https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/15-862.html

      "You can easily see the point, for many today, religious liberty
      is not a cherished freedom, it’s often just an excuse for bigotry
      and it can’t be tolerated, even when there is no evidence that
      anybody has been harmed. And the cases I just mentioned illustrate
      the point," he said. "As far as I'm aware, not one employee of the
      Little Sisters has come forward and demanded contraceptives under
      the Little Sisters' plan. There was no risk that Ralph’s referral
      practice would have deprived any woman of the drug she sought and
      no reason to think that Jack Phillips' stand would deprive any
      same-sex couple of a wedding cake. The couple that came to his
      shop was given a free cake by another bakery, and celebrity chefs
      have jumped to the couple’s defense."

      The First Amendment was not all that was on Alito's mind, however.

         “The ultimate second-class right in the minds of some is the
         Second Amendment,” the justice said. Looking to a case last
         term about firearm restrictions in New York City, Alito
         singled out a brief by five Democratic senators that suggested
         the court’s decision to take the case was evidence of its
         capture by moneyed right-wing interests and threatened to
         “restructure” the court.
         https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/18/18-280/112010/20190812151259076_18-280bsacSenatorSheldonWhitehouse.pdf
         The justices voted to dismiss the
         case rather than rule on the merits.
         https://casetext.com/case/new-york-state-rifle-pistol-assn-inc-v-city-of-new-york
         Although he was “not
         suggesting that the court’s decision was influenced by the
         senators’ threat,” Alito was “concerned that it might be
         viewed that way” by the senators and others who want to
         “bully” the justices. “The senators’ brief was extraordinary,”
         Alito continued. “It was an affront to the Constitution and
         the rule of law.” (SCOTUSblog)
         https://www.scotusblog.com/2020/11/at-federalist-society-convention-alito-says-religious-liberty-gun-ownership-are-under-attack/

      Reflecting on his 15 years on the court, Alito said much "good
      work has been done to protect freedom of speech, religious
      liberty, and the structure of government created by the
      Constitution."

      Ultimately, however, defending the Constitution is not in the
      hands of the judiciary alone. "For all Americans, standing up for
      our constitution and our freedom is work that lies ahead," he said
      in conclusion.

      And "it will not be easy work."

         Address by Justice Samuel Alito [2020 NLC Live]
         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYLZL4GZVbA