Seth Udinski, FISM News
On Tuesday, the United States Supreme Court will hear opening arguments over the case of a Christian flag being flown in Boston over government property. The case could have dramatic effects for the future of free speech and religious freedom in America.
The case revolves around a dispute between the governing authorities of Boston and Camp Constitution, a local Christian organization, after the city prevented the Christian organization from flying a Christian flag at City Hall. Camp Constitution is arguing that they should be allowed to fly the flag under the First Amendment, especially considering that Boston has allowed LGBTQ flags to fly over City Hall.
Many secularists will argue that city should have the rights to prevent religious groups for public displays of support for specific religious groups on public property. Patrick Elliott, senior counsel of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, said:
This is an 83-foot-tall flagpole in front of City Hall that’s associated with the government. That’s why, you know, this religious group wants to use it, because it carries with it some government imprimatur. So we say the city can control that.
Many conservatives, however, see this as a direct violation of both religious freedom and freedom of speech. Hal Shurtleff, a member of Camp Constitution, said:
It’s kind of ludicrous to think flying a flag on a flagpole for maybe an hour or two will somehow get people to think, ‘Oh my goodness, look at the city of Boston now endorsing the Protestant or the Christian faith.’
Shurtleff is confident the high court will rule in favor of religious liberty, but also believes that the City of Boston may simply terminate future flag raising events if it loses:
We’re optimistic that they will rule in our favor and that we will be allowed to raise the flag, although I understand the city will most likely cancel its flag raising events. So we’ll see what happens.
Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, will partake in the argument in favor of freedom of religion before the high court.