The Constitution and Censorship

Deals with two court cases involving censorship, on religious grounds, by governmental agencies--one involving The Miracle sequence from the film Ways of Love and the other concerning religious soliciting in Connecticut by a minister of the Jehovah's Witnesses. The origins of censorship in England are reviewed and related to their influences on American law. Traces the legal proceedings and precedents involved in the banning of The Miracle and the eventual reversal of the ban. Through the case of Cantwell et al vs. Connecticut the courts' decision stated that governments do not have the power to censor materials on religious or sacrilegious grounds. Presents opposing views on censorship at the close of the film., Shows the relationship of the Constitution to the issue of prior restraint on freedom of expression. Presents the case of Burstyn v. Wilson challenging the constitutionality of New York State's film censorship system and Cantwell v. Connecticut involving questions of freedom of speech and religion. Discusses the questions pertaining to freedom of speech when multiplied via recordings or film, and how the claims of free expression can be weighed against claims for local, state, or federal protection.