Next weekend we will be treated to yet another rally for religious supremacism, Justice Sunday II, organized by the Family Research Council. Like the first Justice Sunday, the event will be broadcast to churches and Christian Rightist groups in hopes of whipping up support for some of president Bush’s controversial judicial nominations. And as before, the rally claims that anyone who doesn’t support these nominees is an opponent of “people of faith.”
Meanwhile, a coalition of religious leaders who affirm the importance of separating church and state will be hosting events across the country and speaking out in the media. Among these will be Rev. Bob Edgar, president of the National Council of Churches, Dr. Susan Thistlewaite, president of Chicago Theological Seminary, and Rev. Carlton W. Veazey, President, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

According to a general press release today:

 “Different groups’ plans include a tele-conference Thursday with religious leaders, “Justice Everyday” events around the country and a counter-rally in Nashville preceding the Justice Sunday service on August 14th.  That prayer service is being used as a platform for injecting right-wing religious views
into the upcoming Supreme Court nomination battle.  Rep. Tom DeLay headlines a list of speakers intent on breaking down the wall between church and state and undermining the independence of the federal judiciary.

Though all groups are not participating in all events, they are united in their support for the careful balance struck in the First Amendment, supporting the free exercise of religion and preventing its imposition on the American people.  In events throughout the week and in media appearances.

Here are the highlights:

Media Tele-Press Conference Thursday, August 11, with with progressive religious leaders including Rev. C. Welton Gaddy (Interfaith Alliance), Rev. William G. Sinkford (Unitarian Universalist Association), Rabbi David Saperstein (Religious Action Center) and others.

Freedom & Faith Counter-Event is planned for 3pm on Sunday, August 14th at the Cathedral of Praise church (8200 Macon Road, Cordova, TN), including national and local religious leaders.  Details to come.

Across the country people of diverse faiths will participate in “Justice Every Day” activities to provide an alternative vision of justice and the courts to the one being promoted by organizers of Justice Sunday. Townhall meetings, letters to Senators, rallies and paid media will focus on what’s at stake with a new Supreme Court Justice-voting rights, the right to privacy and protections of religious liberty.                

Meanwhile, editorial writers are continuing to voice their outrage against the campaign of “intimidation” being waged against the federal judiciary by Tom DeLay and his allies on the Christian right.

“At the end of the day,” writes the Austin American-Statesman, “Americans understand that the courts must be as free as possible of electoral politics.”

“DeLay and the unbending Christian conservatives might come to realize that the hard way — by defeat at the polls.”

[Crossposted from FrederickClarkson.com and Talk to Action]