“Faith-based” public services began percolating throughout the government after President George Bush declared his support for that agenda in 2001. Since then, we’ve seen faith-based marriage counseling, faith-based inmate rehabilitation and faith-based sex education in the schools.
What’s next, you may ask — faith-based postal services? No way. That’s just too far-fetched.
In fact, it isn’t. On April 18, a federal court held that the U.S. Postal Service and the Full Gospel Interdenominational Church ran afoul of church-state separation when they joined forces to operate a combination post office-revival hall in Manchester, Conn.
The Postal Service apparently sets up “contract postal units” with businesses, colleges and other private entities to provide mail services in areas where full-fledged post offices aren’t feasible. In Manchester, “Sincerely Yours,” an affiliate of the local church, got the contract, beating out the Manchester Hardware.
Thus when Bertram Cooper showed up at the door to buy some stamps, he was in for a shock. The “post office” was awash in evangelical Christian signs and materials. One display near the postal counter informed customers about Jesus Christ and invited them to submit prayer requests. Stacks of prayer cards were nearby, and other posters touted the church’s World-Wide Lighthouse Missions and appealed for donations.
To add to the religious atmosphere, a television monitor broadcast preaching, scripture messages, choir performances and gospel songs and those waiting in line had no choice but to view it.
Cooper, who is Jewish and a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, thought the situation clearly violated his constitutional rights as an American.
“I’m walking into a place that’s doing government business — selling stamps, mailing parcels and so forth — and they’re doing this religious bit,” he said, according to an AP account.
Cooper filed suit, and last week the court ruled in his favor. U.S. District Judge Dominic J. Squatrito held that the arrangement did not have a secular purpose, had the primary effect of advancing religion and sent a message of state endorsement of religion.
“There is nothing wrong, per se, with the Church exhibiting religious displays,” ruled Squatrito. “Here, however, the Church is exhibiting such displays while it is performing its duties under a contract with the Postal Service, i.e., the U.S. Government.”
The judge ordered the religious displays removed. He held that the Postal Service is free to do business with religious groups but it must notify all its private contractors that they should not take advantage of their state roles to proselytize or advance religion. The Service, he said, must institute procedures for monitoring the contract postal units to ensure compliance.
Cooper was elated.
“I’m happy with the decision,” he told The Hartford Courant. “Justice prevails.”
We extend our heartiest congratulations to Mr. Cooper. If we can find his address, we just might send him a congratulatory letter. He can pick it up at his newly redecorated post office.
Now if we can just disentangle the government from religion in all the other faith-based programs that don’t play by the rules….
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