04-28-2009, 02:02 PM
It does not appear to have been a statement based on “religion” but rather on “culture”, which does not violate the First Amendment. Although the lines can be blurred, cultural is based on a non religious belief where religion is based on a religious faith. Example, opposing the development of mall on a piece of land that is considered sacred based on it being the ancestral birthplace of an indigenous people is not the same as opposing it based on it being the ancestral birthplace of a religious movement. It’s a very difficult concept to follow as often the two cross paths. However, in these difficult financial times where the government is asking everyone to sacrifice, one would think reserving the newsletter for information directly pertaining to the actions of the office of the legislature for all constituents is more appropriate than an op-ed piece related to that legislator’s personal situation.