The United States Supreme Court has denied First Liberty Institute’s appeal in the case of Lance Corporal Monifa Sterling, a U.S. Marine convicted at court-martial for refusing an order to remove an inspirational Bible verse from her workstation.
Many observers considered it to be one of the most important cases in decades for religious freedom in the military, should it have reached the High Court.
Here are five facts to know about the case and the U.S. Supreme Court’s denial of the appeal:
#1 The Court Did Not Rule on the Merits, But Simply Declined To Hear The Case—So The Lower Court’s Verdict Stands.
Denying certiorari (a review by a higher court of a lower court’s decision) “is not considered a decision related at all to the merits,” said Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO & Chief Counsel for First Liberty, “so it really says very little.”
“However,” he continued, “because the Court did not decide to review the case, the travesty committed by the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF, which had upheld Sterling’s conviction at lower military courts) will now stand. The military court’s outrageous decision means federal judges and military officials can strip our service members of their constitutional rights just because they don’t think someone’s religious beliefs are important enough to be protected. Our service members deserve better.”
#2 The Appeal to the Supreme Court Focused Only on Sterling’s Religious Liberty Claims, Not Anything Else.
Should Your Tax Dollars Pay For Illegal Immigrants On Welfare?
Liberals are blind to the reality of what illegal immigrants are doing to our nation.
“They’re all just hard-working, law-abiding folks, just like Americans,” they think.
But some stunning figures show just the opposite. Not only do they bring crime and drugs to our shores, but they also use welfare—and it turns out, a lot more than their legal counterparts.
From the Center of Immigration Studies:
In September 2015, the Center for Immigration Studies published a landmark study of immigration and welfare use, showing that 51 percent of immigrant-headed households used at least one federal welfare program — cash, food, housing, or medical care — compared to 30 percent of native households.
The average household headed by an immigrant (legal or illegal) costs taxpayers $6,234 in federal welfare benefits, which is 41 percent higher than the $4,431 received by the average native household.
The average immigrant household consumes 33 percent more cash welfare, 57 percent more food assistance, and 44 percent more Medicaid dollars than the average native household. Housing costs are about the same for both groups.
Based on the evidence, do you think your hard-earned tax dollars should pay for the welfare of immigrants? Vote in our National Poll below, and let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Donald Trump is considering deporting illegals who have placed themselves on the welfare rolls. Watch experts debate whether President Trump should carry out this law that is already on the books:
