In the United States, we are guaranteed the freedom to practice whichever religion we should choose, and have been since the inception of this great nation.

What we are not guaranteed, however, is freedom from religion.  We are allowed to believe what we wish, but we must also understand that this means we may bear witness to the beliefs of others who are exercising their rights.  Maybe we’ll see a yarmulke at the grocery store, or get stuck in traffic as a baptist megachurch lets out on Sunday.

It also means that all religions must be treated equally – something that the City of Boston is learning the hard way this week.

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a program of the city of Boston that allows outside groups to fly flags at city hall must permit the flying of flag with a cross that a camp referred to as a “Christian flag.”

The question before the court was whether flying the flag as part of a government program was considered government speech if the flag belonged to a private organization, in this case, Camp Constitution. The Supreme Court ruled that it is not.

The ruling left no room for interpretation.

“We conclude that, on balance, Boston did not make the raising and flying of private groups’ flags a form of government speech,” Justice Stephen Breyer wrote in the court’s opinion, stating that as a result the city improperly violated Camp Constitution’s free speech rights.

And that’s not all:

The court’s opinion pointed to how Boston said their goal is “to accommodate all applicants” looking to hold events in the city’s “public forums,” including City Hall Plaza, and the flag flying application only asked for contact information and a short description of the event being requested.

Breyer noted that the city employee who fields flag applications testified that before Camp Constitution’s application, he had never even asked to see a flag before granting approval or even before they were raised.

“The city’s practice was to approve flag raisings, without exception,,” Breyer wrote.

The news comes as the mainstream media continues to equate the religious right with the lesser opinions they hold of conservatives in general, thereby creating a soft vilification of Christianity in the process.

In the United States, we are guaranteed the freedom to practice whichever religion we should choose, and have been since the inception of this great nation. What we are not guaranteed, however, is freedom from religion.  We are allowed to believe what we wish, but we must also understand that this means we may bear witness to the beliefs of others who are exercising their rights.  Maybe we’ll see a yarmulke at the grocery store, or get stuck in traffic as a baptist megachurch lets out on Sunday. It also means that all religions must be treated equally – something that the City of Boston is learning the hard way this week. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a program of the city of Boston that allows outside groups to fly flags at city hall must permit the flying of flag with a cross that a camp referred to as a “Christian flag.” The question before the court was whether flying the flag as part of a government program was considered government speech if the flag belonged to a private organization, in this case, Camp Constitution. The Supreme Court ruled that it is not. The ruling left no room for interpretation. “We conclude that, on balance, Boston did not make the raising and flying of private groups’ flags a form of government speech,” Justice Stephen Breyer wrote in the court’s opinion, stating that as a result the city improperly violated Camp Constitution’s free speech rights. And that’s not all: The court’s opinion pointed to how Boston said their goal is “to accommodate all applicants” looking to hold events in the city’s “public forums,” including City Hall Plaza, and the flag flying application only asked for contact information and a short description of the event being requested. Breyer noted that the city employee who…

Around the world, as Christians gathered to celebrate Easter, there was much talk of Jesus rising from the tomb, and what that symbolizes about the forgiveness of sin in even our modern day.

But, for one church in New York State, the holiday was marked by something truly unique.

A priest in upstate New York believes that his church received a divine message over the weekend in the form of a peculiar marking, which he argues was an image of Jesus, mysteriously appeared on the floor of the building. Father Stepanos Doudoukjian reportedly made the remarkable discovery on Sunday morning just prior to the start of Easter services at St. Peter Armenian Church in the community of Watervliet. Much to the priest’s profound surprise, as he was opening the building to parishioners, he noticed a rather strange water stain had formed on the floor of the lobby and the curious discoloration resembled what he took to be Jesus Christ.

The moment was not lost for the clergyman.

“It was an Easter miracle and an apparition of the Lord,” Doudoukjian declared to a local media outlet, “many of our faithful were awestruck by this as well and made the sign of the cross and thanked God upon entering.” To that end, the priest indicated that the parish decided to burn incense at the location where the marking had appeared as a way of showing their appreciation for the potentially miraculous message. Much like many a mysterious apparition, the uplifting marking subsequently faded away a few hours later, though its impact was seemingly felt throughout the church.

The timing struck a chord as well.

“With all the ugly, evil, war and sickness in the world,” he mused, “perhaps what we need is the face of Jesus to assure us of God’s love.”

Video of the divine visage can be seen below.

Around the world, as Christians gathered to celebrate Easter, there was much talk of Jesus rising from the tomb, and what that symbolizes about the forgiveness of sin in even our modern day. But, for one church in New York State, the holiday was marked by something truly unique. A priest in upstate New York believes that his church received a divine message over the weekend in the form of a peculiar marking, which he argues was an image of Jesus, mysteriously appeared on the floor of the building. Father Stepanos Doudoukjian reportedly made the remarkable discovery on Sunday morning just prior to the start of Easter services at St. Peter Armenian Church in the community of Watervliet. Much to the priest’s profound surprise, as he was opening the building to parishioners, he noticed a rather strange water stain had formed on the floor of the lobby and the curious discoloration resembled what he took to be Jesus Christ. The moment was not lost for the clergyman. “It was an Easter miracle and an apparition of the Lord,” Doudoukjian declared to a local media outlet, “many of our faithful were awestruck by this as well and made the sign of the cross and thanked God upon entering.” To that end, the priest indicated that the parish decided to burn incense at the location where the marking had appeared as a way of showing their appreciation for the potentially miraculous message. Much like many a mysterious apparition, the uplifting marking subsequently faded away a few hours later, though its impact was seemingly felt throughout the church. The timing struck a chord as well. “With all the ugly, evil, war and sickness in the world,” he mused, “perhaps what we need is the face of Jesus to assure us of God’s love.”…