ACLU Challenges Prayer at Winston-Salem City Council Meetings
Same story I’ve heard countless times, different City Council. Once again the PC police at the ACLU are attacking a city council over their opening prayers being too religious. If the city council insists on opening their meetings with prayer, the ACLU wants them to be secularized, generic, and directed towards a more multi-cultural type deity, just in case Jesus happens to offend someone. You know, we must be tolerant and sensitive to the views of those that might be intolerant and insensitive to our own views, especially if its Christianity. Nevermind the part of the Constitution that guarantees individuals the right to express their religion or that no one has complained, the ACLU sees this as a threat and a step towards theocracy.
The American Civil Liberties Union is complaining that prayer aimed at any specific religion should not be allowed during government meetings.
The organization wrote a two page letter citing constitutional law and several cases that uphold the idea that government should not support or advocate any particular religion.
The ACLU says an opening prayer referencing a specific god can be interpreted as city council favoring some groups more than others.
The Winston-Salem City Council routinely begins its meetings with a prayer that often references Jesus or Christ. The ACLU says the practice must end; however, it’s a practice Christians are defending.
According to the ACLU, the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment clearly states prayer at government meetings is OK, but it cannot use the name of recognized deities, it must be non-sectarian and it must be non-offensive to all.
Funny that they claim the Establishment Clause clearly mentions prayer at government meetings. I never read that part. I will have to contact the ACLU and order their extended version of the First Amendment. Somehow in their version of the First Amendment one clause cancels out another clause.
City Attorney Ron Seeber says the ACLU’s interpretation is correct. He challenged the council to agree on either opening meetings with a non-secular prayer or a moment of silence.
Council members are requesting the presence of any Christian person in council chambers December 18 to show support for Christian prayer.
In a statement provided over the phone, Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines said he is getting an informal consensus among council members as to what they want to do. He said he will not take a formal vote.
Author