Posted on 02/28/2005 10:06:51 PM PST by Crackingham
Members of municipal bodies in Virginia will be able to say Christian prayers just before the beginning of their official meetings under a measure the General Assembly unanimously approved this session. The measure, sponsored by Delegate Robert D. Orrock Sr., creates a period for "meditation" immediately before an official government body is called to order. The measure also allows local government officials to invoke the name of Jesus Christ and say sectarian prayers without violating the separation of church and state. Mr. Orrock said the prayers will be protected by free-speech laws.
"Under the First Amendment, you can say whatever you want to say," the Caroline Republican said. "It's a minor modification of a long-standing practice."
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia opposes the bill. Kent Willis, executive director of Virginia's ACLU, said the bill would allow local governments to circumvent a recent ruling by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals that prohibits sectarian prayers at the start of meetings.
"Unconstitutional prayers will appear to be constitutional," Mr. Willis said.
Last year, the 4th Circuit Court unanimously ruled that the practice of town council meetings beginning with a prayer that includes references to Jesus in South Carolina was an unconstitutional government advancement of a single religion. The ruling came after a Wiccan high priestess sued the town council of Great Falls, S.C., because its leaders refused to lead prayers that didn't invoke a single religion or to allow members of different faiths to lead the prayers. The woman, who regularly attended the meetings, had said she was ostracized for refusing to stand and bow her head during the Christian prayers.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
About time...
"The woman, who regularly attended the meetings, had said she was ostracized for refusing to stand and bow her head during the Christian prayers"
More likely, she was ostracized for being a foul-smelling kook.
Man! That is a HUGH surprise. Seriesly!
Alright. Now it's time for me to exercise my free speech.
It's time to start tar and feathering the American Commie Liberties Union.
And then run them out of town on a rail.
we need a law that says christians can pray??
And that's on his good days.
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