{"id":2251190,"date":"2024-05-23T11:56:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-23T15:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/catholic-group-sues-biden-administration-over-blatant-violation-of-the-first-amendment\/"},"modified":"2024-05-23T11:57:58","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T15:57:58","slug":"catholic-group-sues-biden-administration-over-blatant-violation-of-the-first-amendment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/catholic-group-sues-biden-administration-over-blatant-violation-of-the-first-amendment\/","title":{"rendered":"Catholic Organization Sues Biden Admin for First Amendment Breach"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcatholic-group-sues-biden-administration-over-blatant-violation-of-the-first-amendment%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2251190&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Knights of \u2064Columbus are challenging the Biden administration&#8217;s\u2063 rejection of a Memorial Day Catholic Mass at Poplar Grove \u2063National Cemetery. The lawsuit \u2062claims a violation of the First Amendment and Religious\u2062 Freedom Restoration \u2063Act. Despite \u200bfacing opposition, the Knights persist in\u2063 their\u2064 legal battle for the\u200d right to conduct the cherished tradition. The\u200d Knights of Columbus are contesting the Biden administration&#8217;s \u200cdenial\u200d of a Memorial\u200b Day Catholic\u200c Mass at Poplar Grove National Cemetery. The \u200blawsuit \u200balleges violations of the First Amendment\u200b and the Religious Freedom Restoration \u200bAct. \u2062Undeterred by resistance, the Knights persevere in their\u2064 legal fight to uphold this valued\u2063 tradition.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/news\/\">  News <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/russdavis\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/russdavis\/%20\"><span>Jack Davis<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   May 23, 2024 at 8:04am <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>The Knights of Columbus are fighting the Biden administration so a Catholic Mass can be said over the honored dead on Memorial Day at Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Petersburg, Virginia.<\/p>\n<p>Although the tradition of a Memorial Day Mass at the cemetery dates back to the 1960s, the National Park Service under President Joe Biden is now saying religion is against the rules, prompting a lawsuit filed by First Liberty Institute and McGuireWoods LLP to allow the service on Monday, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/firstliberty.org\/media\/breaking-knights-of-columbus-sue-after-park-service-denies-longstanding-memorial-day-service-calling-it-demonstration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news release<\/a> from First Liberty.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe policy and the decision blocking the Knights of Columbus from continuing their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/italian-church-condemned-for-same-sex-nativity-scene\/\" title=\"Italian Church Criticized for LGBTQ+ Nativity Scene\">long-standing religious tradition<\/a> is a blatant violation of the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act,\u201d John Moran, Partner at McGuireWoods, said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe National Park Service is way out of line. This is the kind of unlawful discrimination and censorship RFRA and the First Amendment were enacted to prevent,\u201d said Roger Byron, senior counsel at First Liberty.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/firstliberty.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/9-Brief-in-Supp-of-TRO-PI-Motion_Redacted.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">motion for a temporary restraining<\/a> order says, \u201cDefendants\u2019 treatment of the Knights is unreasonable, unnecessary, and unconstitutional.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBy prohibiting the Knights from exercising their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/illinois-might-mandate-teachers-to-embrace-progressive-viewpoints\/\" title=\"Illinois Might Mandate Teachers To \u2018Embrace\u2019 Progressive Viewpoints\">religious convictions<\/a> and expressing their patriotism by praying for and honoring the fallen through a Catholic mass held inside the cemetery, NPS is misapplying its own regulations, unlawfully infringing on the Knights\u2019 First Amendment rights and violating the Religious Freedom Restoration Act,\u201d the motion said.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">We filed suit against the National Park Service. We\u2019ll be in court on Thursday. Please join us in praying for a quick and favorable resolution.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/42e4VvExsd\">https:\/\/t.co\/42e4VvExsd<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 First Liberty Institute (@1stLiberty) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/1stLiberty\/status\/1793396842836754693?\">May 22, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The motion notes that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/st-patricks-day-humiliation-biden-declared-worlds-worst-catholic-irish-writer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">federal policy<\/a> lumps religious services with demonstrations and bans on the grounds they could be disruptive, violating the atmosphere of a cemetery.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Will the Knights of Columbus prevail in their legal battle?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cMemorial Day mass is no more disruptive of \u2018the atmosphere of solemnity, quiet contemplation and tranquility\u2019 than other permitted activity,\u201d the appeal for a restraining order says. \u201cIndeed, in the humble opinion of the Knights, their annual Memorial Day mass helps to contribute to the very atmosphere that NPS says it wishes to promote.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The motion notes what it calls \u201cthe tragic perversity\u201d of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/devastating-flashback-footage-biden-transfer-fallen-soldiers-goes-viral-memorial-day-never-forget\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Park Service<\/a> because according to its own records, no one else ever took the time to hold a service over the dead who lie at Poplar Grove.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut no, the Knights are Catholic, and they want to hold a mass. Katy, bar the door,\u201d the motion said.<\/p>\n<p>The National Park Service offered to allow a Mass outside the gates of the cemetery in what is referred to as a First Amendment area, the motion said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd when the Knights pointed out that NPS had permitted another Council to hold their annual Memorial Day mass inside the Andersonville National Cemetery in Georgia, NPS responded swiftly and harshly by revoking that permission,\u201d the motion said.<\/p>\n<p>Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares filed an amicus brief supporting the Knights of Columbus on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Biden Administration\u2019s actions against this Catholic group violate the First Amendment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">I just filed an amicus brief supporting the Petersburg Knights of Columbus\u2019 right to continue its Memorial Day Mass prayer gathering tradition at Poplar Grove National Cemetery.<\/p>\n<p>The Biden Administration\u2019s actions against this Catholic group violate the First Amendment. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nPEAFpzmho\">pic.twitter.com\/nPEAFpzmho<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jason Miyares (@JasonMiyaresVA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JasonMiyaresVA\/status\/1793655069013147650?\">May 23, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>However, Alexa Viets, superintendent of the Petersburg National Battlefield, said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/betrayal-catholic-womens-college-will-admit-men-identify-women-cites-pope-justification\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the rules are the rules<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNational 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/capitol-police-officer-who-died-during-capitol-riot-to-lie-in-honor-in-rotunda\/\" title=\"Capitol Police Officer Who Died During Capitol Riot To Lie In Honor In Rotunda\">national cemetery<\/a>,\u201d she said, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtontimes.com\/news\/2024\/may\/21\/knights-columbus-sues-national-park-service-hold-m\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Washington Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/catholic-group-sues-biden-administration-denying-permit-memorial-day-mass-way-out-line\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fox News<\/a> reported the language banning religious services from the cemetery has been in place since at least 1986 but was never enforced until recently.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>A Note from Our Deputy Managing Editor:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>\u201cWe don\u2019t even know if an election will be held in 2024.\u201d Those 12 words have been stuck in my head since I first read them. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Former Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn recently made that comment to Floyd Brown, founder of The Western Journal. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>And if the leftists and the elites get their way, that\u2019s exactly what will happen \u2014 no real election, no real choice for the Electoral College, and no real say for the American people. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The Western Journal is fighting to keep that from happening, but we can\u2019t do it alone.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We work tirelessly to expose the lying leftist media and the corrupt America-hating elites.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>But Big Tech\u2019s stranglehold is now so tight that <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>without help<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  from you, we will not be able to continue the fight. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The 2024 election is literally the most important election for every living American. We have to unite and fight for our country, otherwise we will lose it. And if we lose the America we love in 2024, we\u2019ll lose it for good. Can we <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>count on you<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  to help? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>With you we will be able to field journalists, do more investigative work, expose more corruption, and get desperately needed truth to millions of Americans. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We can do this only with your help. Please don\u2019t wait one minute.<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>  Donate right now<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Thank you for reading,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Josh Manning<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Deputy Managing Editor<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>P.S. Please <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>stand with us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  today.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-44685\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/russdavis\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-44685\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-44685\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-44685\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-44685\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Jack Davis is a freelance writer who joined The Western Journal in July 2015 and chronicled the campaign that saw President Donald Trump elected. Since then, he has written extensively for The Western Journal on the Trump administration as well as foreign policy and military issues.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Jack Davis is a freelance writer who joined The Western Journal in July 2015 and chronicled the campaign that saw President Donald Trump elected. Since then, he has written extensively for The Western Journal on the Trump administration as well as foreign policy and military issues. <br \/> Jack can be reached at jackwritings1@gmail.com. <\/p>\n<p>  Location <\/p>\n<p>  New York City <\/p>\n<p>  Languages Spoken <\/p>\n<p>  English <\/p>\n<p>  Topics of Expertise <\/p>\n<p>  Politics, Foreign Policy, Military &#038; Defense Issues <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Knights of Columbus battle the Biden administration to hold a Memorial Day Catholic Mass at Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Virginia. This cherished tradition faces opposition, sparking a legal struggle for honoring the fallen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":661,"featured_media":2251191,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Knights-of-Columbus.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2251190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Knights-of-Columbus.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2251190","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/661"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2251190"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2251190\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2251191"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2251190"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2251190"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2251190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}