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ACLU, Justice support lawsuit by LDS student

and they should reinstate it to him, military service is not required it is also chosen. So that can not be the excuse they use.

I think any time the young people of today are willing to give their time, energy, and resources for something worthwhile it should be encouraged not discouraged by the adults of our society. The young people who choose to give two years to service in any worthwhile project, especially a religious one, and then want to continue to improve their educational pursuits should have the complete backing and support of us all.

It becomes somewhat concerning when the ACLU finds their organization in defense of a returned missionary. Kind of a mild form of the saying: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend?"

you know akr, i find you somewhat concerning. I give credit where credit is due. Kudos to the ACLU for defending this young man. If you for a second akr think this is the ACLU establishing a religion for all to be forced to live you aare wrong, and if you think that, yes, that would be bigoted indeed. Shame on you AKR

Could it be that this incident will help Utah conservatives to realize that the ACLU is there to protect ALL civil liberties?

Wait! There is more to this. I remember reading the full article weeks, if not months ago.

I do believe that this fellow did not reapply in accordance to the mandates of the scholarship.

Isn't this the facts?

No, ACLU will not protect ALL civil liberties. Only the few they decide are in their 'unions' interest to protect. When's the last time they stood up for the 2nd Ammendment? Or protected conservative speech at a government funded university? Or defended a property owner from an eminent domain suit? And it's more of a surprise that the ACLU would team up with any church, let alone the LDS church, than it that it would find support from the government. Oh, and why do I find it difficult to trust any organization that uses the word "union"?

Karen - what do you think the ACLU would do if this young man showed up at a public forum discussing an issue in the community and expressed an opinion that was consistent with the views of his church? My observations tell me that they (ACLU) would tell him that separation of church and state dictate that he is promoting religion and his views can't be acted upon. The only people of faith who have a voice are the ones that take positions in opposition to their religion.

I wouldn't jump into that boiling pot too eagerly, karen. you had better check their past record as wll as keep an eye out in the future.

What about those people attending college out of high school that won't get a scholarship becasue this person's is being deferred? Maybe he should be allowed to re-aply after he returnes.

It is refreshing to see the ACLU with a meaningful case, supporting true ammendment rights. Thanks to the ACLU. There is no doubt in my mind that this case is a winner...Carry On...

WOW! I was going to chime in on this one but I don't need to. AKR's statement is so typical of the LDS cognitive dissonance. Anonymous and Karen are right on target.
OK, I can't resist. Bush is all about his political base, not civil liberties. The ACLU is about civil liberties. The Justice dept is there, not about civil liberties but about religious "rights". Sometimes, such as the case here, they overlap.

Karen,

Your question can not be properly answered as it includes a falsehood.

Most that argue against the ACLU, don't argue that the ACLU doesn't defend "rights", but rather, argue that the "rights" the ACLU defend were never granted by the social contract.

The People don't want to issue those "rights" and the ACLU fights to change that.

In this case, you'll see many people typically against the ACLU, for the ACLU on this occasion.

We should not interpret this article to grant the ACLU new found respect, nor that a person typically against the ACLU should now be for the ACLU, but rather that on this on occassion the ACLU did something that many will approve.

Very much like the saying - just because a broken watch tells the right time twice in a day, doesn't mean that it is now working.

And notice that the Feds joined after the ACLU took a stand. You may not like some of the defenses of the ACLU, but they are consistent. Good for them. Some, I mean most, in this state would not recognize that. I salute them.

Sue, sue? whats wrong with this boy did he not read the Bible on his 2 year mission? Christians are not to sue in court , but be humble and forgive if someone offends thee. This free tution is a not a right. My son was faced with this the exact thing in 1987 (he had a full FREE scholarship at San Diego State he was a 4.0)He asked for a defferment they said No, he "choose" his mission and came home with honor. Then worked his way through school and law school. I think the boy is wrong to sue, why is he doing it?

If he has to reapply then those that leave for Military Service would have to do the same. The point is that rules for other leaves need to be applied religious leaves.

Thanks to Nola and FuManchu2 for succinctly interpreting the article and its implications. The Constitution allows us to seek redress for grievances. This seems to be an appropriate case for that. I, for one, am actually surprised the ACLU took the case. Its nice to have them agree with me for once, but a leopard can not change its spots.

San Diego, you're joking right? Christians don't sue? There are plenty of Christian attorneys out there. For example, you may have heard of Sir Thomas More. Being LDS, you're familiar with Dalin Oaks and James Faust (just to name a few). If you're an American history buff, you may have heard of Abraham Lincoln. Or perhaps John Adams. Oh, and then there's the Utah Bar to consider. Many (most?) are LDS. they're all wrong?

San Diego, he is suing because he was wronged, and forced to choose between his religious observances and his scholarship, which is not right. He is simply standing up for what is right, honest and good. There is nothing in the Bible that says we should not stand up for ourselves and for what is right, honest and good. "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." (Edmund Burke) If Christians are to just be humble and forgive any who offend us, then we will be defeated. Remember, "faith without works is dead."

You don't have to find it in the bible for it to be right! I don't think that they had scholarships back in Bible times? LOL!