“Sure Victory for Religious Liberty in Texas” Attorney General Reaffirms Prayer, Scripture Reading in Court – (Aug 22, 2016: CBN News) The Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) challenged the practice (prayer and Bible reading) after filing a complaint with the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct about Montgomery, Texas Judge Wayne Mack. Mack is known to open each court session with prayer and he has a volunteer chaplain read Scriptures from the Bible. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton contended that it does not violate the Establishment Clause to open a court session with the statement “God save the State of Texas and this Honorable Court” or to open court with a prayer, or have a chaplain read from the Bible. “Both the United States Supreme Court and the Texas Supreme Court have longstanding practices of opening their sessions with (the) invocation “God save the United States (or the state of Texas) and this Honorable Court,” the Attorney General wrote. “The Court has explained that the recitation of this type of phrase at the opening of court sessions is like legislative prayer in that it is ‘part of our heritage and tradition, and part of our expressive idiom,’” the opinion states. According to the Office of Attorney General website, although the AG’s opinion is a non-binding legal opinion it is a “written interpretation of existing law.” “This is a sure victory for religious liberty in Texas,” he said. “This opinion goes a long way in providing the necessary clarity to Judge Mack, and judges throughout Texas, of constitutionally appropriate court room prayer and volunteer-led chaplaincy programs. As Lt. Governor, I will continue to fight for religious liberty across the state.”
Every Child Must Study the Bible, Says Netanyahu at Open of School Year – (Breaking Israel News, August 30, 2016) This year, students must put more emphasis on learning the Bible, which is the “basis for why we are here,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced at a cabinet meeting two days before the start of the new school year in Israel. “Our objective is to carry out an education revolution,” he said. This revolution will be based on two things: excellence and Zionism.” Zionism, built on Bible study and learning about Jewish heritage, will teach students why the Jews are in Israel, he continued, putting heavy emphasis on studying the Torah (Bible). Bible study must come first, the prime minister elaborated. “We must make a major effort, this is the basis for why we are here, why we have returned here, why we stay here.”
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