Steve Boggess
January 16, 2006
Reese Lloyd: ACLU terrorizing America
By Steve Boggess

In one of my past articles, I wrote about the battle between the ACLU and the Boy Scouts of America. I got multiple e-mails from those who have been involved in scouting for almost sixty years in support of it.

Reese Lloyd, a former attorney who once worked for the ACLU now says that this liberal organization is "perverting federal law by successfully threatening government officials into getting rid of public expressions of religion.

I am paraphrasing from an article posted on the website, World Net Daily.

Rep. John Hostettler, (R-Ind) has recently authored legislation that would prohibit judges in civil suits involving the First Amendments Establishment Clause from awarding attorneys fees to those offended by religious symbols or actions in the public square-such as the Ten Commandments display in a court house, or a cross on a county seal.

Mr. Hostettler's legislation is named PERA, or the Public Expression of Religion Act (H.R.2679)

Mr. Lloyd, who is a California civil rights attorney, is also an officer with the American Legion. He wrote a resolution passed by the national organization supporting Rep. Hostettler's bill.

This bill would amend the 1976 Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Act, 42 U.S.C. (United States Code) Section 1988, to prohibit prevailing parties from being awarded attorney's fee in religious establishment cases, but not in other civil rights filings.

In essence, this amendment would prevent local governments from having to use taxpayer funds to pay the ACLU or a similar organization when a case is lost.

The 1976 statute was meant to help the "little guy" who is going up against a governmental entity so that he or she will not become impoverished when working to guarantee the liberty to express or practice his or her faith.

The ACLU has used this law to line its pockets at the taxpayers' expense, and also as a means to silence public officials who don't want to be sued personally.

Rep. John Hostettler said: "They use this statute to extort behavior out of individuals, and when officials see the potential threat of a lawsuit, they stop allowing children to write papers for English class — when they're asked to write about the most important person in their life and they decide to write about Jesus Christ."

The representative's bill would allow cases to move through the courts without public officials worrying about being held up personally liable for thousands of dollars in attorney's fees.

The ACLU is not the only organization perverting the original statute; so are People for the American Way and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.

The purpose of PERA would prohibit damages, court fees and attorney's fees from going to plaintiffs in establishment-clause suits while keeping the original purpose of the civil rights law. In other words, to provide a means for those whose religious liberties have been blocked to find justice.

The ACLU is opposed to this legislation and Congressman Hostettler wonders why because it still provides for "injunctive relief," which means a court can rule in the ACLU's favor and force removal of the Ten Commandments — but takes out the monetary incentive for law suits.

Rep. Hostettler also stated: "If they're not out for the money but are really out to preserve our civil liberties, then the ACLU should not be opposing my bill."

The congressman also mentioned the Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore's case against the ACLU when they sued him for removal of the Ten Commandments in his courtroom.

Former ACLU attorney Reese Lloyd said the end time came for him when he saw his former colleagues sue the City of San Diego over a cross that was on a veteran's memorial on public land in the Mohave Desert.

Mr. Reese said: "Now, for the first time, the ACLU was attacking the very veterans who secured their freedom."

At least now there is one former ACLU attorney who saw the light, and this organization for what it really is.

God bless Reese Lloyd.

© Steve Boggess

 

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