Athens, Ohio: Church-state pre-trial set for today

[theHandpuppet]

The Athens News
Athens, Ohio
Church-state pre-trial set for today
Local man charged with criminal mischief for obscuring church directory at courthouse
By David DeWitt

An Athens man is scheduled for a pre-trial in Athens County Municipal Court this morning (Monday) over his protest of the church directory sign on the Athens County Courthouse. The man admits placing stickers on the sign advocating the constitutional separation between church and state.

Eliot Kalman, 69, was arrested by courthouse constables Oct. 28 after being caught on a county video camera placing stickers on the sign. He was charged with a third-degree misdemeanor for criminal mischief. He pleaded not guilty to those charges, and said Friday he intends to represent himself when the matter goes to trial this morning.

Kalman, a longtime advocate for separation of church and state and former president of the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, provided documents that show he has been in communication with the Athens County Commissioners since 2011 expressing his opposition to the church directory sign.

The sign lists 40 different churches and religious groups throughout Athens County....

MORE at http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-43650-church-state-pre-trial-set-for-today.html

[oberle]

1. Eliott Kalman does this kind of thing frequently

Unfortunately, he tends to lose in court. (I live in Athens). This time I really appreciate him doing this. It is a clear violation of church and state.

[theHandpuppet]

3. My wife & I are very fond of Athens

It's on our short list of places to live when we retire.

[oberle]

4. Athens is a little blue enclave in the midst of a sea of red in a very red state

It's sad. I'm trying to move out of Ohio right now. Too much for me.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. I sometimes entertain myself in the comments sections of these articles.

One line in a comment almost had me laughing at the ignorance that was displayed in the decision discussed (not to say the decision is inaccurately portrayed):

Should the propriety of the sign every be argued in court, it would probably be done so in similar manner as nativity scenes, being allowed as long as no specific religion is given preference.

How any court or any person can think for a minute that a nativity scene is not giving preference to a specific religion is beyond me. Please raise your hand if you know of any other religion besides Christianity that has a nativity scene.

As to Mr. Kalman, I would wish him luck, although it sounds like he will need more than wishes of luck. But I have the feeling that he will not give up this fight, and I am with him on that.