Friday, November 20, 2009

Raghu saves the day, hiring an expensive lawyer!


OC Weekly’s Matt Coker has noted our “prayer” lawsuit (here) and has managed to dig up some cool facts! One cool fact concerns the Chancellor, that clever fellow who played a certain video three months ago--you know, the one that ends with that remarkable assertion about Jesus?

According to Matt,
District Chancellor Raghu Mathur, who is also named as a defendant in the suit, has retained David Llewellyn of the Sacramento-based Llewellyn Spann law firm. Llewellyn, who often represents conservative Christian groups, left a message with the Weekly vowing that Westphal v. Wagner will be settled through "constitutional law designated in the courts."

Llewellyn also revealed his defense strategy, saying official government sessions have begun with prayer invocations since the United States was founded and that the public college district simply wants to follow that tradition.
Yeah, but it isn't that simple, L-man:
[T]he Americans United complaint references more than just invocations before public meetings. Saddleback officials are accused of showing a video titled God Bless the USA during a faculty training session this past August.

"The video included religious images and closed with two pictures of military personnel carrying a flag-draped coffin," according to the complaint. "Superimposed on those images was the following text: 'Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you. Jesus Christ and the American G.I. One died for your soul, the other died for your freedom.'"

Such spectacles subject some members of audiences to "unwanted religious practices," according to Americans United, which adds that attendance at some events where this occurs are mandatory, citing students who are awarded scholarships but must go to a public ceremony or forfeit the financial aid.
This isn't just about prayin'.

COMMENTS:

Anonymous said...
You can't make this stuff up, can you?

That video is shameful.
7:36 PM, November 20, 2009

Anonymous said...
It's about time something was done about this. But does the lawsuit not say anything about prayer at Irvine Valley College?
8:34 PM, November 20, 2009

Anonymous said...
Well, the Chancellor's "opening session" in August was at IVC. So there's that. The notorious "Jesus Christ" video was shown there.
9:16 PM, November 20, 2009

13 Stoploss said...
I (still) take offense that Mathur thinks soldiers are willing to die for assholes like himself. 

btw, do you have video of this invocation? I'm sure there are scores of veterans, possibly hundreds, that would love to see that video.
11:54 PM, November 20, 2009

Anonymous said...
Does this also mean that the District, using taxpayer dollars, will be paying these lawyers to defend these actions? Just what we need on the heels of this week's announcement that the State is projecting another $21B deficit and education funding is again at stake.
1:39 PM, November 21, 2009

Anonymous said...
Yes, it does mean that. The behavior of Wagner, Fuentes, and Mathur seems to have been particularly provocative. And so now they've got a lawsuit on their hands, and it will cost the taxpayer many tens of thousands of dollars at the very least.
5:03 PM, November 21, 2009

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

You can't make this stuff up, can you?

That video is shameful.

Anonymous said...

It's about time something was done about this. But does the lawsuit not say anything about prayer at Irvine Valley College?

Anonymous said...

Well, the Chancellor's "opening session" in August was at IVC. So there's that. The notorious "Jesus Christ" video was shown there.

13 Stoploss said...

I (still) take offense that Mathur thinks soldiers are willing to die for assholes like himself.

btw, do you have video of this invocation? I'm sure there are scores of veterans, possibly hundreds, that would love to see that video.

Anonymous said...

Does this also mean that the District, using taxpayer dollars, will be paying these lawyers to defend these actions? Just what we need on the heels of this week's announcement that the State is projecting another $21B deficit and education funding is again at stake.

Anonymous said...

Yes, it does mean that. The behavior of Wagner, Fuentes, and Mathur seems to have been particularly provocative. And so now they've got a lawsuit on their hands, and it will cost the taxpayer many tens of thousands of dollars at the very least.

Roy's obituary in LA Times and Register: "we were lucky to have you while we did"

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