ACLU furious over Florida gov's respect for religion

From the Palm Beach Post...

Gov. Charlie Crist views it as a sign of respect, but, for some, the mezuzah hanging outside his Capitol office has morphed into a controversial symbol....

"The problem is that if he says yes to this religious symbol, he's not going to be able to say no to any other religious symbol," said Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. "While it may look like a lovely gesture, it's very short-sighted."

Crist hung the mezuzah, made of Jerusalem stone, outside his office after receiving it as a gift from state Rep. Adam Hasner, a Jewish Republican from Delray Beach who accompanied the governor on a recent trade mission to Israel. That's where Hasner bought the mezuzah, which contains a sacred script from the Torah proclaiming the absolute unity of God.

"It's done out of respect ... for the Jewish faith that I have great respect for. It was very kind of Adam to present it," said Crist, who doesn't get what the ACLU's problem is with him posting the religious symbol.

Since Crist himself isn't Jewish, it's pretty hard to logically argue that this is any way an establishment of religion by him, let alone by Congress, which is what the First Amendment actually prohibits. Apparently the ACLU see Atheism as the official religion of Florida, the US and all the states and demand that it alone be observed. One has to wonder if any of them have ever actually read the Constitution.

On a personal note, though, as I understand the meaning and purpose of the Mezuzah it is to remind the resident of the home/office of their dedication to making that home/office under the authority of the Mosaic Law. No a problem if the office holder is Jewish since the Mosaic law doesn't run contrary to US law. However I believe Crist is supposed to be a Christian and one of the foundational teachings of Christianity is that we are no longer under the Mosaic Law, therefore the Mezuzah would run counter to that. It seems an inappropriate form of respect to use a symbol of a religion that specifically symbolizes a part of that religion you don't believe in. Traditionally Christians will display the Menorah to show solidarity with Jews, because the miracle that the Menorah represents, while not mentioned in scripture, is nonetheless well within acceptable beliefs for Christians. It seems belittling to the concept of what the Mezuzah represents to use it while not believing what it represents.

Hat tip: Stop the ACLU

Posted by Danny Carlton at October 19, 2007 7:26 AM