6B
RELIGION/ICie C^tlotte
Thursday, August 11, 2005
ACLU sues N.C. to allow religious text oaths
IIIEASSOCIAJTID PRESS
RALEIGH—The religious
texts of Islam, Judaism, Hin
duism and faiths other than
Christianity should l)e
allowed in North Carolina
courts for oaths promising
truthful testimony, the ACLU
argued in a lawsuit filed
against the state I\iesday
State law allows witnesses
preparing to testify in court to
Religious
lines
fading
Continued from page 7B
ongoing disagreements stem
fix)m two radically different
views of the church.
"We Catholics are churchy
people and we have a stack of
beliefs about the church and
perceptions of the church that
evangelicals don’t have,” Shea
says, calling this "the big
block that is almost insur
mountable.”
Evangelicals famously
champion the Reformation
principle of "Scripture alone”
as the source of religious
authority, whereas Catholi
cism enshrines both Scripture
and tradition as interpreted
through the church. Other
examples include the authori
ty of the papa^ and its dog
mas about Mary
Yet both Noll and Shea
believe the evangelicals are
much closer to Catholicism on
central Christian teachings
than more liberal Protestants.
So, does that mean the
Reformation is over? Noll
sunmiarizes; "The answer is
not yes, but it’s moving in the
direction of yes.”
take their oath either by lay
ing a hand over a “Holy Scrip
ture,” by saying “so help me
God” without the use of a rdi-
gious book or by using no reli
gious symbols.
“We hoi)e that the court will
issue a ruling tfiat the phrase
“holy scripture” includes the
Quran, Old Tfestament, and
Bhagavad-Gita in addition to
the Christian Bible,” said Jen
nifer Rudinger, executive
director of the American Civil
Liberties Union of North Car
olina.
A spokeswoman for the
state attorney general’s office,
which represents the state in
lawsuits, did not immediately
return a call se^dng com
ment.
The ACLU last month
called on the state Adminis
trative Office of the Courts to
adopt a policy allowing use of
the Quran and other religious
texts in North Carolina court
rooms. The request came
after the two top judges in
Gviilford County decided that
Muslims could not legally
take an oath on the Quran.
AOC director Ralph Walker
replied in a letter July 14 that
his office would not sanction
use of religious texts other
than the Bible imtil the Gen
eral Assembly or the courts
settled the matter.
The language of the state’s
law on court oaths is already
broad enou^ to include other
religious texts, so the Legisla
ture need not clarify it,
Rudinger ssiid.
“The lawsuit is seeking a
declaration by the court that
this is what Holy Scripture
means in the law,” she said.
The issue surfaced after
Muslims fiom the Al-Ummil
Ummat Islamic Center in
Greensboro tried to donate
copies of the Quran to Guil-
fbrd Coimty’s two courthouses
last month.
Guilford Senior Resident
Superior Court Judge W.
Douglas Albri^t and Guil
ford Chief District Court
Judge Joseph E. Turner
decided not to accept the
tots for courtroom use.
Both said an oath on the
Quran is not a legal oath
under state law, which refers
to someone laying his hands
on the “Holy Scriptures.” The
two judges interpreted that to
mean the Christian Bible.
In response, the Washing-
ton-based Council on Ameri-
can-Islamic Relations asked
for a statewide policy allow
ing oaths to be taken using
the Quran.
The ACLU of North Caroli
na said an 1856 state
Supreme Court decision sets
a dear precedent for oaths
with religious texts. The
court decision noted that
North Carolina’s oath-taking
statutes were written for
Christians but do not limit
others fix)m swearing in the
way they deem most sacred.
The ACLU said a change in
the law in 1985 further sup
ports his point.
Before that time, the law
was called “Administration of
oath upon the Gospels.” It
stated that someone to be
sworn was to lay his hand on
"the Holy Evangelists of
Almighty God.” That year
legislators took out "the
Gospels” in the title and
changed the language to sim
ply read "Holy Scriptures.”
The ACLU contends the
change signals that legisla
tors w«e trying to be more
indusive.
Denying use of other reli
gious texts would violate the
Constitution by favoring
Christianity over religions,
the ACLU said in its lawsuit.
On the Net
ACLU of North Carolina:
wwwjacluofhorthcarolina jorg/
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PARKWOOD INSTITUTIONAL
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
802 Tom Hunter Road • Charlotte, NC 28213
704-921-4915 (Ph) • 704-921-4917 (Fax)
Wedsile: www.parkwoodcme.com
Sunday Worship 8:00 & 11:00 AM
Sunday School 9:30 AM
Bible Study
Wednesday 12 Noon Thursday 6:30 PM
TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE
Roderick D. Lewis. Sr.
PaslOT
The Prophet’s Column, Inc.
9626 Feldbank Drive
Charlotte, NC 28216
“Haters Of God” (Part H)
J.M. Little - Teacher
Before any sinner can be saved, he has to have his heart opened by the Spirit of God to see his lost,
ruined, wretched and hell-deserving condition. And if you miss Holy Spirit conviction, you’ll go to
hell without warning! How many of our church members have been brought down under Holy
Spirit conviction? The number is small, I believe less than one-half of one percent. I can count on
one hand the number of preachers and teachers 1 know in the state of North Carolina who have
been brought down under Holy Spirit conviction and have fingers left. I don’t know of another
Bible teacher in my family that has been brought down under Holy Spirit conviction. What about
the preachers? The same. Have you been brought down under Holy Spirit conviction for salvation?
You, not the other fellow. In Romans, the first three Chapters, the beloved Apostle Paul is laying the
axe to the root of the tree. Man by nature is a totally depraved being that liates God. And that is the
world’s trouble. Man by nature cannot love God and holiness because man by nature is a child of the
Devil. (Jn. 8:44) Now you may come back at me like a preacher here in the state came back at me: “He
was talking to the Jews there in John 8:44”. Hold your seat, preacher! Since you say my Lord was talking
to the Jews, and you are a Gentile, then you are two-fold more a child of the Devil than the Jews! That
makes you mad, doesn’t it? It is because you have missed Holy Spirit conviction and you do not know any
more about how God saves a poor, blinded, totally depraved sinner than a doodle bug knows when Sunday
comes. That is just how stupid and ignorant you are. You are a leader, but you are leading your folks to
hell! I received a card in the mail from a young preacher inviting me to his gathering. I read his card and
wrote to him, telling him that he was trying to teach and preach Christ to others but he didn’t know Christ
himself. Of course, that makes an unsaved preacher mad and he would not answer me. Years ago at the
barbershop a young preacher told me he was going to get married. I asked him if his future wife knew
Christ. That question made him so mad he left out and has never tried to contact me again. When I ask
the question; “Do you know Christ?, it makes folks so mad. Friend, if you have one ounce of spiritual
sense from on High, you’d love me for asking you that question. But you hate me for asking that because
you hate God. Hold your seat now, preacher. Not only do you hate God, you hate His Word and His
people. That early Saturday noon, when the blessed Holy Spirit opened my heart, He showed me I hated
God, His Word and His people. Before that revelation, I did not believe I hated God. Brethren, when the
Holy Spirit opened my heart and revealed those truths to me, I acknowledged it imto Him. My mouth was
shut. That was the death blow that came to my heart to finally break me and bring me to the end of my
way. Did you ever know that a sinner has to be brought to the end of his way before be can be saved?
Do you know that, Mr. Teacher? You see, self-righteousness is the last idol a sinner will give up before
he is saved.
The Trinity Park Baptist
present
“The Revival of the
Summer 2005”
Theme: “Wisdom Makes a Difference...” hmM-.S-n
August 21, 23-25, 2005
Rev. Eric R. Miller
Host Pastor
&
Trinity Park Baptist Church
9115 Trinity Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28216
704..393.0130
Guest Speakers
Dates/Time
Bishop Gaiige Bnxiks, Pa.slor
Mt. Zion Baptist Church., Greensboro, NC
Sun. Aug. 21,2005
5pm
Rev. Dr. George Ctxik, Jr., Pastor
Greater Ml. Sinai B.C., Charlotte, NC
Tues. Aug. 23,2005
7pm
Rev. Dr. Fred Gibson, Pastor
Greater Providence B.C., Charlotte, NC
Wed. Aug. 24,2005
7pm
Rev. Dr. Paul Drummond. Pastor
First Mayfield B.C., Charlotte, NC
Thurs. Aug. 25,2005
7pm
JfirsJt ilt. Zion papttsit Cljurcl)
1515 Remount Rd. • (TeI.)332-8335 (Fax)372-7548
28208
Sunday Morning Worship Services... 8:30 - 9:30 - 11:00am
Sunday School 9:45 - 10:45am
Singles Ministries (Mon.) 6:30 - 7:3(^m
Senior Citizens (Mon.) 10:30 - 4:00pm
Office Hours: Mon, - Fri. 9:00am - 4;00pm
Dr. C.V, Owens You are cordially invited to worship with us!
Greater Gethsemane A.M.E. Zion Church
'VieOimfiwiW the Conmumity at Heart"
531 Campus Street • Chartotte^ NC28216
ffm)375-3900 - Fax 372-0614
Worship Services: SAM £f 11AM
Sunday School: 9:30AM
Bible Study: Wed. 10:30AM fi- 7PM
Daycare & Afterschool Available
Email: gamez531@bellsouth.net
The Reverend Calvin L Miller - Pastor
Reverend Karen Roberts Miller - Spouse
Greater Myers Chapel
PENTECOSTAL FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES
- You*re Invited to Worship With Vs -
Intercessory Prayer. 8:30am
Victory in The Word 9:15am
Worship 10;30am
Sunday Evening Total Praise 7:00pm
Hour of Power/Tutorial avail.Wed....7:00pni
Visit our WebSite: www.greatermyerschapel.org
600 Jordan Place, Charlotte, NC 28205
“WAR Fellowship Ministry Covenant Partner”
For Van Ministry
704-377-1799
I lis last
commandment is
our first
wwwstuKambcorg ass^nment
Missionary Baptist Church
Sndsy VonUp Snnrkwi
Soadiijr Sfchtxl....
Wwfawiaday.
Jfoao 0*7 WartMp Stttdy-lftOO
EvMklBC Vorahtp Sl«dy
Sen. Clifford Sfatthem, Jr., Potior • 37S-9eS0
1600 Norm Avo. • ChpHotU, NC 28206 • FAX; 376.8397
St. Michael & All Angels
Episcopal Church
■ Toin Us For Service ■
Sunday School and Morning Worship, Sunday 10:30 am
4228 Hovis Road • Charlotte, NC 28208
704-399-3151
Rev. Wendell Phillips, Pastor
Macedonia Baptist Church
of CHARLOTTE, INC.
"A Ministry of Love and Excellence’'
Dr. John H. VCalker, Pastor dr |
Minister, Rosie Walker
New Sunday 10am Worship Experience I
“Family First Worship” I
‘‘As For Me and My House I
We Shall Worship The Lord" |
SUNDAY
* Ph\-sical hood - (serving brcAklast.) 8 a.m.
* .Spiritual Food - Christian Education Schixsl 9 am.
’ Main Course - "Familv First Worship” 10 a.m.
WEDNESDAY
"Hour of I’ower ' .Midday Worship 12 Noon
W.O.'X’ - 9(brd On Wednesday Bible Study. 6:30 p.m.
lA'and RADIO BROADCAST MINISTRY:
CMPAC 21 - nil'll* • Rejoice Radio 1370am ‘Wed. 10:45a
704-^92-R496 ♦1300 Hacteras Avc..* www.macedoniaofcharlottc.org
1 ^ 1
SIMPSON-GILLESPIE
NITED METHODIST CHURCH
tpen Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors”
Join Us For Service -
iunday School, 9:30am • Sunday Worship, Ham
Wednesday: Bible Study, 7pm
1st & 3rri Saturday: ‘Contemporary Worship." 6pm..."Jeans Allowed';
Rev. Walter Pegues, Pastor
3545 Beatties Fd Rd, Char., .NC 28216 • 704-399-2717 • Van Ministry
“We Can Do Ml Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Us”
Mayfield Memorial Baptist Church
“A Church Putting Love Into Action”
700 SUGAR CREEK ROAD, WEST
CHARLOTTE. NORTH CAROLINA 28213
Sunday Church School 9:30a.m.
Worship SeD'ice 11 lOOa.m. and 6:00p.m.
Baptist Training Union 5:0(^.m.
Prayer Meeting & Bible Sludv Wedne^ys 7:30pm
Office (704)596-7935 • Fax (704)596-1204
Residence (704)597-1249
Come Share the Vision and
Share tHe Journey
Sunday Worship Services
8:30 am aiUl 10:45 am
Sunday School 9:30 am
Reeder Memorial Baptist Church
3725 Beatties Ford Road
Charlotte, North Carolina 28216
www.reederchurch.org
MOUNT CARMEL BAPTIST CHURCH
“Pastor and Pec^le Prevailing Together”
Missitxi Statement: “Celelx^ng Christ to reach, teach and equip
people for the service Christ”
Sunday at 8K)0AAL,9‘J0AAt and 11:30 AJVL
Sunday School Ministry at 9:30 AM.
Chfldren (4-11 yrs.). Youth (12-17 yrs.) & Nutsmt: 11:30 AM.
Smafl Groups and Married Cmiple’s: 9:30 AAL
Wednesday: Praise Wmship & BOile Study, 7 PM.
Youth and ChUd^’s Mnnstrv
3201 Tuckaseegee Road, Charlotte, NC 28208-3357
Rev. Dr. Casey R. Office: 704-394.3525 Fax:704-394-8836
Kimbrough, I Website: www.mcbc-nc.OTg.
The Reverend Dr. Casey R. Kimbrough. I, Senior Pastor
St. Paul Baptist Church
Our Purpose: “To convince the unconvinced
to be convinced and make disciples”
Sunday Worship at 7:30 A.M. and 10:30 A.M.
Sunday Morning Breakfast 8:45 A.M.
Sunday School at 9:25 A.M. - ia25 A.M.
Radio Broad^t Sunday 11:00 A.M. (1370 A.M. Dial)
Bible Study Wed. 12 Noon - 6:45 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
Youth Church 2nd & 3rd Sunday 10:30 A.M.
1401 North Allen Street, Charlotte. NC 28205
Office: 704-334-5309
Gregory K Moss &
Pastor
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