ACLU Challenges Mayor's Ban Of Satan

[James Maule]

Hmmm. Instances of people (including government officials) seeking to ban worship of Satan, proclamations about Satan, sale of Satanic merchandise, and similar activities abound. Surely the outcome in each instance depends on the facts.

But to ban Satan? Yeah, sure, Satan will immediately comply. Maybe the mayor plans to put border guards at the town limits to search entering vehicles for Satan.

Sorry to be so flip, but someone who thinks she has the power to ban Satan from the town has some other issues to deal with.



Jim Maule
Professor of Law, Villanova University School of Law
Villanova PA 19085
maule at law.villanova.edu
http://vls.law.vill.edu/prof/maule
President, TaxJEM Inc (computer assisted tax law instruction) (www.taxjem.com)
Publisher, JEMBook Publishing Co. (www.jembook.com)
Owner/Developer, TaxCruncherPro (www.taxcruncherpro.com)
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>>> stuartbuck at MSN.COM 01/24/02 08:42PM >>>


 http://www.mycfnow.com/orlpn/news/stories/news-120420520020124-040104.html


ACLU Challenges Mayor's Ban Of Satan
Group Wants Proclamations Removed From Town Entrances
Posted: 4:57 a.m. EST January 24, 2002
Updated: 8:01 a.m. EST January 24, 2002

INGLIS, Fla. -- The American Civil Liberties Union has threatened a federal lawsuit against the mayor of a Florida town for her proclamation banning Satan within the town limits.
The ACLU has sent a letter to Mayor Carolyn Risher that said it will file a federal lawsuit unless she removes anti-Satan proclamations from four posts that sit at the town's entrances.

The group also wants the town commission to pass a resolution repealing Risher's edict and demands Risher reimburse the town for any costs of printing it.

Risher, citing advice from the town attorney, declined comment, a local newspaper reported.

Risher, the mayor for nine years, wrote the proclamation on Halloween night. It was typed on town stationary, signed by Risher and Town Clerk Sally McCrainie, and affixed with the town seal.

Risher, reportedly a devout Christian, put a copy on her office wall and then placed others at the town entrances. She has contacted Liberty Counsel, a nationwide religion-based organization that offers legal help, for possible assistance.

ACLU attorney Gary S. Edinger said in the letter his group is acting on behalf of Polly Bowser, a resident of this town of 1,400 people about 75 miles north of Tampa.

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