ACLU Challenges Mayor's Ban Of Satan

[David Cruz]

On Fri, 25 Jan 2002, Michael McConnell wrote:

> I am curious: Does anyone think this raises different issues from those
> regarding the San Francisco resolution condemning "religious right" groups?

At least in part, yes.  The SF resolution addresses contested secular
consequences of human beings' actions.  The Inglis resolution directs
itself to a supernatural, religious figure whose very existence vel non is
a matter of religious belief.  Whether or not the former is permissible
under the U.S. regime of disestablishment, the latter to me appears no
more permissible than a governmental resolution welcoming our risen Lord
Jesus Christ into the city, which strikes me as something that would be
plainly impermissible.  (This of course brackets the question whether the
Inglis Satan ban should be characterized as governmental speech/action.)

-David B. Cruz, USC Law (Cal.)