“We are shocked that NASA would censor the name of Jesus from our Praise and Worship Club’s announcement.”For background, read how President Obama's NASA Ignored God's Creation and also read how NASA Concealed the First Communion on the Moon
-- Sophia Smith, NASA employee
-- From "NASA accused of 'censoring' its Christian employees" by Tim Devaney, The Hill 2/8/16
The Liberty Institute, which is representing the Christian employees, threatened Monday to sue NASA over what it claims is religious discrimination. At issue is whether a praise and worship club should be allowed to use the name “Jesus” in NASA’s employee newsletter.
NASA told the Christian employees last year the meeting announcement they posted in the newsletter violated the government’s responsibility to remain neutral on religious matters, according to the Institute. The agency did not tell the Christian employees to stop meeting during lunchtime, but did order the club to refrain from using the name “Jesus” in their emails.
“It is illegal for the government to censor the name of Jesus from emails authored by employees,” Jeremy Dys, senior counsel for Liberty Institute, said in a statement. “Preventing a religious club’s announcement just because it contains the name ‘Jesus’ is blatant religious discrimination. We call on NASA to end their censorship and apologize.”
The praise and worship club has been meeting at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston since 2001. They discuss their faith and sing worship songs during their lunch break.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Religious Group Threatens To Sue NASA For Censoring Jesus" by Jonah Bennett, Reporter, Daily Caller 2/8/16
These employees had formed a private group within the agency called the JSC Praise and Worship Club, an entity separate from the agency. As part of the group, employees meet together during lunch to pray, and no one is prevented from taking part in the group’s activities.
In an announcement email, one of the employees had used the word “Jesus.” A few days after the email went out, NASA lawyers clamped down and said the use of the word was absolutely unacceptable and would not accept the group’s offer to issue any kind of disclaimer to downplay its use.
The Liberty Institute wants NASA to issue a response by March 10 reconsidering its original position. If not, the Liberty Institute is ready to sue the agency.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Group claims NASA is attempting to censor word 'Jesus' in company newsletter" by Anoushah Rasta, Reporter, KPRC-TV2 (Houston, TX) 2/8/16
"We want NASA to stop censoring us using the word "Jesus" in our announcement," said Sophia Smith, a member of the "Nasa JSC Praise and Worship Club."
Last May, club organizers said they sent in an announcement to be posted about their meeting to the Johnson Space Center's online email newsletter.
The announcement read "Jesus is our life."
"It's part of our belief and we are called to use the name of Jesus when we pray," said Smith.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "NASA Illegally Censors ‘Jesus’ from Employee Emails, Liberty Institute Issues Demand Letter" posted at Liberty Institute
Like any other employee group at the JSC, the Praise and Worship Club routinely submits announcements about its meetings to the JSC Today, NASA’s daily email newsletter to everyone who works at the JSC. In May 2015, the club organizers submitted the following announcement:
Join with the praise and worship band "Allied with the Lord" for a refreshing set of spring praise and worship songs on Thursday, June 4, from 11:15 a.m. to noon in Building 57, Room 106. (The theme for this session will be "Jesus is our life!") Prayer partners will be available for anyone who has need. All JSC civil servants and contractors are welcome.Generic religious references and secular speech, like announcements for soccer camps, Latin Dance classes—or even Praise and Worship Club announcements without the name “Jesus”—are still permitted in JSC Today.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "NASA blasts off on First Amendment" posted at Amarillo Globe-News 2/8/16
How in the world do these words [in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution] — “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ...” justify NASA ordering a praise and worship club to stop using “Jesus” in a NASA-related newsletter?
Those who think the First Amendment and/or the “separation of church and state” (a phrase not in the U.S. Constitution, if that matters) supports the removal of each and every religious reference from the public domain (although it seems Christianity is usually the targeted religion) are either ignorant of the U.S. Constitution or have an agenda.
It is pure and simple. The First Amendment is meant to keep the federal government from mandating a religion — the kind of persecution and oppression that led many to risk their lives for freedom.
Instead, many are of the mistaken belief that the First Amendment is meant to remove all public displays of religion. And NASA has provided yet another example.
To read the entire editorial above, CLICK HERE.
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