While Joe Biden and the Left claim to care about the Constitution, their actions tell a different story. And this most recent incident has millions of Americans outraged.
As President Biden’s administration has been hit with a massive religious lawsuit that has people shocked.
A revered Catholic group, the Knights of Columbus, has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, alleging religious discrimination after their traditional Memorial Day Mass at a national cemetery was prohibited for the second consecutive year.
The Knights of Columbus have conducted this service at Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Petersburg, Virginia, for the past 60 years, making this denial a significant deviation from longstanding tradition.
On Tuesday, the Knights of Columbus sought a temporary restraining order against the National Park Service in Virginia following the refusal of their permit.
The group claimed that this decision is a violation of the First Amendment, which guarantees the free exercise of religion.
For six decades, the Knights of Columbus have honored fallen soldiers with a solemn Mass at Poplar Grove National Cemetery.
This annual event has been a cornerstone of the local community’s Memorial Day observance, drawing participants from all walks of life to pay their respects.
However, for the second year in a row, the National Park Service denied the necessary permit, citing regulatory constraints.
“The policy and the decision blocking the Knights of Columbus from continuing their long-standing religious tradition is a blatant violation of the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA),” stated a partner for the law firm representing the group.
“We urge the court to grant our restraining order and allow the Knights to hold their service this Memorial Day.”
Alexa Viets, superintendent of the Petersburg National Battlefield, where the cemetery is located, provided an explanation for the decision to deny the permit.
“National Cemeteries are established as national shrines in tribute to those who have died in service to our country, and as such, any special activities within the cemetery are reserved for a limited set of official commemorative activities that have a connection to military service or have a historic and commemorative significance for the particular national cemetery,” Viets stated.
She further elaborated that federal regulations prohibit the authorization of special events within national cemeteries to maintain an atmosphere of solemnity, quiet contemplation, and tranquility.
The parks have classified religious services as “demonstrations,” which have been prohibited since 1986.
Despite these regulations, the Knights of Columbus argue that their prayer service has been a permitted and integral part of the Memorial Day tradition at the site for decades until recently.
Roger Byron, senior counsel for First Liberty, a legal organization representing the Knights of Columbus, criticized the National Park Service’s decision as a violation of the group’s religious freedoms.
“The National Park Service is way out of line,” Byron said. “This is the kind of unlawful discrimination and censorship RFRA and the First Amendment were enacted to prevent. Hopefully, the court will grant the Knights the relief they need to keep this honorable tradition alive.”
The Knights of Columbus argue that the prohibition of their religious service constitutes a direct affront to their constitutional rights.
By denying the permit, they contend that the National Park Service is not only disregarding decades of tradition but also infringing on the group’s ability to freely practice their faith.
“This is a clear case of government overreach,” Byron added. “The Biden administration needs to recognize that religious groups have the right to assemble and practice their faith without undue interference from federal authorities.”
As the legal battle unfolds, the outcome will be closely watched by religious and civil liberties groups nationwide.
The case underscores the ongoing tension between religious freedom and government regulation, a conflict that remains at the heart of many contemporary legal disputes.
Stay tuned to Prudent Politics.
