An atheist group got upset when a tax-funded county animal shelter performed a pet blessing.
The American Atheists Legal Center sent a letter to the Bergen County Animal Shelter in New Jersey when they learned that a priest was invited to bless all the animals last September, according to Patheos. Local residents were also invited to bring their own pets to have them blessed.
The letter of complaint read: "It the report from our complainant is accurate, it appears that the BCAS's Event violates each prong of the Lemon Test. Though no possible secular purpose could be served by inviting a Franciscan Bishop to a government facility to 'bless' residents' pets, the policy's religious intent is readily apparent. So too is the fact that the event will have the primary effect of advancing a particular religious viewpoint."
In performing the pet blessing, the atheist group said that the Bergen County government is sending a message that it is favoring the Catholic faith. "Finally, hosting and promoting a religious ritual and placing government personnel and resources under the control of a member of the clergy (or, conversely, a member of the clergy under the control of government personnel) creates the very form of excessive entanglement which the Establishment Clause was intended to prevent," the letter further stated.
The letter was ignored, and Franciscan Bishop Kenneth Reihl went ahead with the pet blessing a week later and now the American Atheists have filed a lawsuit against the shelter on behalf of their member, Candice Yaacobi. Yaacobi went to the BCAS to adopt a chihuahua, and took offense when Reihl greeted her.
"As a humanist atheist, being forced into an encounter with a member of clergy in order to avail herself of government services sent Candice the message that the BCAS and Bergen County regarded her as inferior to those citizens who happened to adhere to the favored religious view," the complaint read.
Attorney Geoffrey T. Blackwell also said in a statement that the shelter made things worse by refusing to respond to their letter and lawsuit. Blackwell added that their actions were "unconstitutional." He added, "I thought it was well-settled that all dogs already go to heaven."
