John Burke, an atheist, and his wife, a pantheist, had left the line blank. As a result, the bureau denied the Burkes' application. After the couple began court action, however, the bureau changed its regulations, and the couple was able to adopt a baby boy from the Children's Aid and Adoption Society in East Orange.

Last year the Burkes presented their adopted son, David, now 31, with a baby sister, Eleanor Katherine, now 17 months, whom they acquired from the same East Orange agency. Since the agency endorsed the adoption, the required final approval by a judge was expected to be pro forma. Instead, Superior Court Judge William Camarata raised the religious issue.

Inestimable Privilege. In an extraordinary decision, Judge Camarata denied the Burkes' right to the child because of their lack of belief in a Supreme Being. Despite the Burkes' "high moral and ethical standards," he said, the New Jersey state constitution declares that "no person shall be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshiping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience." Despite Eleanor Katherine's tender years, he continued, "the child should have the freedom to worship as she sees fit, and not be influenced by prospective parents who do not believe in a Supreme Being."

The Burkes are now living in Carterville, Ill., near Southern Illinois University, where John Burke has worked for the past year as a speech pathologist. Nevertheless, Judge Camarata ordered the parents to send David's sister back to the New Jersey adoption agency. Two weeks ago, aided by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Burkes appealed directly to the New Jersey Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case. If they fail in their appeal, Eleanor Katherine may have to leave the only family she has ever known and await adoption by another couple whose religious convictions satisfy the State of New Jersey.
Can Atheists Be Parents? - TIME

I realize this is atypical, but I think it demonstrates a bigger reality in today's America.
I've seen polls that state that Americans would sooner elect a gay man to office than an atheist.
While some atheists put up a stink over ant-hill issues they insist are mountains ...
... there does exist a flip-side discrimination in America...

This country is beginning to get a little scary.

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When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it - this is knowledge. Confucious

while I may disagree with the core belief system that atheist parents may instill in their kids that certainly doesn't disqualify them to be parents. The same could be said about others who are religious to varying degrees in various religions. no religious test for politicians --- I think that should apply to parents as well.

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http://thecourier.typepad.com/rightonthemark/

"To educate a man in mind but not in morals is to educate a menace to society." --- Theodore Roosevelt

Same here..one's religious beliefs or lack thereof should have noting to do with their ability to be good and loving parents.

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"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins

what the...?...

don't tell me mikeyy agrees with me on something...

did hell just freeze over...?...

...& crazyflamingos too...?...

there isn't a full moon tonight...is there...?...

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http://thecourier.typepad.com/rightonthemark/

"To educate a man in mind but not in morals is to educate a menace to society." --- Theodore Roosevelt

Crazy ain't it?

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When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it - this is knowledge. Confucious

Aww, c'mon. The government is just trying to protect us.

They sure are. I feel all warm and cozy every time Bush does a signing statement

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When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it - this is knowledge. Confucious

I don't know why the judge did that. Thought they could get away with it I guess.
Kind of like when I was young, a girl friend of mine could not go in the military with a child in her custody unlike a male. And her score had to be higher. Welcome to my world.
It has changed a little, but after Hillary's defeat tonight I heard someone say, Well...We aren't ready for a woman president..."

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Consumption is indeed important in a free economy: particularly the freedom of consumers to buy their goods in unhampered markets. However, key to long-term economic growth is investment (savings), which is the opposite of consumption. Public policies that promote consumption — such as low interest rates — do so at the expense of savings. Less savings means less investments; an economy that does not save or invest will consume all of its resources and eventually end up bankrupt.-David Saied

hey, this is another suppression of individual freedom. Everyone is entitled to accept or belief on something.

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“Man is an animal that makes bargains: no other animal does this - no dog exchanges bones with another.”