Kay Staley is no stranger to fighting local governments. In 2003 she sued Harris County, Texas, claiming its display of a bible monument in the courthouse was a violation of the constitutional separation of church and state. In 2006, after a 3 year battle, the US 5th District Court of Appeals agreed with her and ordered the monument removed. Now Kay Staley has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Houston, alleging that the city council's long-standing practice of saying prayers before meetings also violates the Constitution."Just because it always has been doesn't make it right," said Staley in an ABC Eyewitness News interview. "There are lots of people who feel exactly the same way I do. Most people are afraid to come out and say anything because of their jobs or their friends."
Don Cheatham, the city's Sr. Asst. District Attorney, is reviewing the suit and examining the council's current policies and practices. Mike Sullivan, a councilmember also interviewed by Eyewitness News, said that he thought the lawsuit was a publicity stunt and plans to vigorously defend his participation in public prayer at city hall.
Kay Staley, who received a considerable amount of hate mail and death threats during her last suit, is equally determined to press her case. I think prayer ought to be a private matter." She said. "I don't want anyone praying for me."
Photo Credit:
1) Kay Staley (photo courtesy of ffrf.org)
If you enjoy my articles, you can click on "Subscribe by email" to receive notice when new ones are posted.
You might also enjoy these:
Comments
"received a considerable amount of hate mail and death threats during her last suit"
Like how many? Bunches? Ooodles and oodles? Like way a lot?
Sorry, Hugh ... I don't buy "considerable" unless you are quoting someone directly. Even then, I find it a highly suspicious assessment!
Thanks for the article!
Hello Alex. While the exact quantity of death threats is hard to pin down, frequency is evident simply from the number of hits you get by googling her name and "death threats." Here's a quote from one that also mentions threats to the judge in the case: "The dispute stoked fierce passions in Harris County, and at one point Bible supporters vowed to turn out in mass,armed with their own Bibles, and resist its removal, a confrontation that was avoided. Staley, 64, was subjected to death threats after filing the lawsuit, and at one point, an effigy labeled 'Judge Lake' was hung on a cross outside the courthouse, according to Kallinen."
Hate mail and death threats are very common in these separation of church and state cases. A friend of mine was the plaintiff in one of those "cross on public land" cases here in my county. He got plenty of death threats too... and this was in California, not bible belt Texas.
Is there any way to sent her support mail? Does she have an email address? Or has all the hate mail forced her to hide? She's right about there being a lot of us that believe like she does but would never say so here in Houston for fear of losing our jobs and being ostracized by the community.
Hello John L. Kay Staley has a business address in Houston but no email address is listed. You should probably contact her attorney, Randall Kallinen, for information on how to get in touch with her. Examiner.com won't allow us to put email addresses in our comments but his website is easy enough to find. You just google "Randall Kallinen, Houston."
I'm glad to see that Kay had better luck than we did in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where the courts decided that the bronze plaque listing the ten commandments could stay because of its historical value. It has been up in the courthouse for about 80 yrs or so. If it's so historical, why not move it to the local (excellent) Historical Society?
Since the Courthouse also displays a creche at Christmas, Jewish locals put up a Mennorah, and the Free Thought Soc of Phila puts up a Tree of Knowledge - an evergreen with ornaments which are covers of books on critical thinking, evolution, etc.
I love the way the anti-religion crowd totally ignores the Constitution. I feel like a damn broken record. Here is the text of the 1st amendment for people like Kay Staley who have probably never read it:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."
Where is that "wall between church and state" again? 1st Amendment ONLY applies to Congress. Take a damn Civics class. States can do as they please. If Texas wants to fund a manger scene or something, too bad. Vote differently next time.
The "wall between church and state" was invented in 1971 in the infamous Lemon case. Look it up.
Don't believe me? Show me the line in the Constitution that says States can't have displays of the 10 Commandments or something.
Damn busybodies.
I'm no lawyer Eugene, but I do know that the Lemon case was not the first instance US constitutional requirements like those in the 1st Amendment were applied to the states... and that the law behind it is based on what is in the Constitution, namely the 14th Amendment (1868). Check Wikipedia under "Incorporation (Bill of Rights). The Establishment Clause has been applied to states for quite some time. Check the 1947 case, Everson vs Board of Education, for an example.
HUGH: Again, this is the first line:
"CONGRESS shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." (emphasis mine).
It refers specifically to the federal congress. This clause applies equally to all states only in the sense that the feds cannot step in and pass laws regarding religion.
The "Lemon Test" has been under attack since its inception.
Furthermore, the "Lemon Test" is absolute BS if you excuse my language. It was quite literally made up and not a word of it exists in the Consitution. States do not have to abide by the same requirements as the federal government, that's the beauty of living in a representative republic.
hello im a satanist and im having trouble at a job corps about discrimmination to my belifes for i'v been told i dont have a rigth to my belifes do u have any info or knowledge to share?
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!