Georgia Officials Face ACLU Lawsuit After Praying in Christ's Name

AgapePress | August 26, 2005 | Allie Martin

[hildy123]

A Georgia county is being sued by the American Civil Liberties Union over its pre-meeting prayers. The suit claims one prayer at a recent Cobb County Commissioners' meeting ended "in the name of Jesus our Savior," which phrase, according to the ACLU, puts the invocation in violation of the Constitution of the United States.

However, attorney Steve Crampton of the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy, protests that the Cobb County officials' prayers are entirely legal, and the commission members have the right to open meetings with prayers acknowledging Jesus if they so choose.

But unfortunately, the pro-family lawyer notes, "This is one of those areas where our separation of church and state fanatics have really made headway over the last several years with the argument that praying in Jesus' name before, in this case, a county commission meeting constitutes the establishment of religion, prohibited under the First Amendment."

Still, Crampton, a constitutional law specialist, points out that there is historical as well as legal precedent for this kind of prayer. "Of course, the reality of the matter is that this is a practice that has been honored throughout the history of our nation, from the first days of the Continental Congress till today," he says.

And as far as the courts are concerned, the AFA attorney adds, the highest court in the land has also weighed in. "The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1983 in the Marsh v. Chambers case that legislative prayers with a historical background are perfectly constitutional -- that we are a people that has long recognized the obedience and role of our government as being under God," he says.

The ACLU's suit claims the Cobb County Commissioners' prayers are offensive to five county residents. However, a spokesman for Cobb County is arguing that the officials' prayers are legal because they take place before the meetings and are entirely voluntary.

[highlymotivated]

American
Communists (and)
Liberals
Union

All
Communists (and)
Liberals
Unite

[SubMareener]

And the ACLU hasn't said anything about Cindy Sheehan's putting CROSSES along the side of PUBLIC ROADS!!

[saveliberty]

Established = in use by anyone who happens to be in a public building?

If that's the case, why isn't secular humanism treated as the religion of the left? The ACLU lawyer, although less of a hothead than others about whom we've read, is attempting to impose his own version of SecularHumanist infallibility (over simplistic interpretation of Papal infallibility.

[hildy123]

Great Point!

[Labyrinthos]

However, attorney Steve Crampton of the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy, protests that the Cobb County officials' prayers are entirely legal, and the commission members have the right to open meetings with prayers acknowledging Jesus if they so choose.

I assume Mr. Crampton would feel the same way if they started out each meeting by facing Mecca and praying to Allah or by chanting some scientology crap.

[Sender]

ACLU won't touch Sheehan because she is using crosses to mock Christ, which they applaud.

[Rebelbase]

"The ACLU's suit claims the Cobb County Commissioners' prayers are offensive to five county residents."

I am offended by the ACLU.

[Lacey]

In Russia they are welcoming the use of Bibles in public schools. Yet here thanks to the ACLU we've gone to the opposite extreme.

[Calpernia]

Moses with the Ten Commandments in the rotunda of the Library of Congress

Moses on the rear facade of the U.S. Supreme Court

Moses with the Ten Commandments inside the Supreme Court's courtroom

"Liberty of Worship" statute resting on the Ten Commandments outside the Ronald Reagan Building

The Ten Commandments in the floor of the National Archives

The Adams Prayer Mantel in the White House

Painting called "Knowledge" in the North Hall of the Library of Congress

An excerpt from Virginia's Statute of Religious Freedom, authored by Thomas Jefferson, on the wall of the Jefferson Memorial

"De Soto's Burial in the Mississippi River" in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol

A stained glass window of George Washington praying, in the chapel in the U.S. Capitol

A phrase from Lord Tennyson in the rotunda of the Library of Congress

A painting of the Roman goddess of war in the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol

An excerpt from Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural speech carved into the interior of the Lincoln Memorial

[StonyBurk]

probably NOT and justifiably so.The first prayer in America
by Congressional act was provided by Rev. Jacob Duche--Tuesday Sept.6,1774 Resolved That the Rev.Mr.Duche be desired to open the Congress tomorrow morning with prayers,at the Carpenters Hall,at 9 o'clock.The 35th Psalm was read by the Rev.Jacob Duche and the first prayer in Congress,Sep.7,1774 began "Be thou present O God of Wisdom
,and direct the counsel of this Honorable Assembly;" and ended "All this we ask in the name and through the merits
of Jesus Christ ,Thy Son and our Savior,Amen." And throughout American History prayers have been issued before government bodies (at the discretion of the Christian
minister) closing as did that first Prayer"in the Name and
through the merits of Jesus Christ ,Thy Son,and our Savior"
or varients thereof. Only the Truely Ignorant or those hostile to our foundation would suggest Prayer must be
given in any other name to any God Not recognized by our
Founders as the God they trusted and believed in.

[boilerfan]

ACLU = Anti Christ Lawyers Union

AKA the legal wing of Satan's forces......

[saveliberty]

Here's the added point, does this attorney posit that legislators and executives in the public arena cannot derive their views on policy from their religious beliefs? Will there actually be thought crime, as foretold by George Orwell and in fact will it be "enforced" also foretold, by the Left? Which the ACLU enshrines.

[Labyrinthos]

If the Founding Fathers intended to limit the First Amendment to a particular God or religious practice, then they should have said so. Since they didn't, I have to assume that if a local government wants to start a meeting with a prayer to the Boogyman, they have the constitutional right to do so.

[reformedliberal]

IF people were invited to voluntarily do so (pray to Mecca or whatever Scientology prays to) prior to a meeting in the USA, just how many do you really think would actually do so?

I am Jewish. Christianity is still the majority religion in this country. I am 62 and have heard this sort of invitation to voluntary prayer all my life in public places, meetings and events and I am not offended. It is actually comforting.

The Muslims and the Scientologists and the Wiccans are still unable to offer a chance a pray in their manner and have everyone or almost everyone present agree.

In majority Jewish areas, the prayers are offered to God.

[alessandrofiaschi]

[Calpernia]

Oops, typo in that one image code:

A painting of the Roman goddess of war in the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol

[Calpernia]

I've not read George Orwell.

[saveliberty]

He is worth reading. He is no defender of capitalism -- he was a big socialist, but he was brutally honest about where he thought socialism/big government were going. For that reason, he is really worth the time and effort.

[elcid1970]

Who are those `five county residents' offended by public prayer, and where do they live and work?

Who is the ACLU lawyer bringing this lawsuit and where does he/she live and work?