A woman is Texas is suing the United States Postal Service for not allowing her to preach Christianity on official postage stamps.

It turns out there are websites where you can design your own postage stamps. A lot of people might use a picture of their kids for Christmas cards. You get the idea.

Susan Fletcher decided she wanted to create Jesus stamps. Some say “God Bless Texas” while another shows a crucifix.

The USPS has a straight-forward policy when it comes to stamps like these: Ones that depict “political or religious content” are not allowed. That’s a blanket policy. It’s not like pro-atheism stamps are allowed but Christian ones are not. And while there have been stamps depicting famous religious icons (like Mother Teresa), that’s not the same thing as open promotion of a particular faith.

Fletcher sees this neutrality as anti-Christian. So with the help of lawyers at First Liberty, always willing to assume there’s a fire the moment anyone pretends there’s smoke, she’s suing the postal service.

Her argument is that designing these stamps is an extension of her religious beliefs and depriving her of Jesus Stamps is a First Amendment violation. Somehow.

Ms. Fletcher has a sincerely held religious belief that she is compelled by the Lord to use her God-given artistic abilities to advance a religious message in all available communications media, including custom stamps for various holiday and celebratory occasions. Ms. Fletcher considers these stamps to be an essential aspect of her religious practices and Christmastime message for friends and family.

It’s like Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life, and if you don’t put me on your stamps, you’re going straight to Hell.”

She notes in the lawsuit that the USPS allows the depiction of religious holidays — like Kwanzaa and Hanukkah — but even the examples she provides don’t include religious message. Showing an image of a dreidel is not at all the same thing as a Christian torture cross with a religious message. (Christmas trees are also allowed on stamps, but for some reason, that isn’t mentioned anywhere in the lawsuit. I wonder why…)

The fact that Fletcher thinks this is a winning case shows you what Christian privilege looks like.

The fact that First Liberty jumped on this case tells you just how inept their attorneys are.

There’s no case here. There’s also no religious requirement to get your own damn stamps. This might be a case if some religious messages were permitted but others were not… but that’s not what’s happening here. First Liberty is desperate to compare apples to oranges. That’s no basis for a lawsuit.

(via Texas Scorecard. Thanks to Brian for the link)

