Jan 17, 2012
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The Supreme Court will not intervene in a controversy over Christian prayers delivered before commission meetings in Forsyth County, North Carolina. The North Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State praised the decision as a victory for the First Amendment.
The high court’s decision leaves in place a federal appeals court ruling that held that the predominantly Christian prayers at the start of commission meetings violated the First Amendment’s alleged ban on government endorsement of a particular religion.
The court found that more than three-quarters of the 33 invocations given before meetings between May 2007 and December 2008 referred to “Jesus,” “Jesus Christ,” “Christ,” or “Savior.”
That, according to the court was a problem.
“Faith is as deeply important as it is deeply personal,” Judge J. Harvey Wilkinson wrote in the July 29th appellate court ruling. “and the government should not appear to suggest that some faiths have it wrong and others got it right.”
Americans United Executive Director Barry Lynn hailed the Supreme Court’s decision not to consider the case. His organization was one of the groups sponsoring the lawsuit.
“When government meetings are opened regularly with Christian prayer, it sends the unmistakable message that non-Christians are second-class citizens in their own community,” Lynn said in a statement. “That’s unconstitutional, and it’s just plain wrong.”
But David Cortman, an attorney representing Forsyth County, said the ruling makes Christians second-class citizens.
“That’s what this case shows,” said Cortman, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund. “We believe the Supreme Court has missed an opportunity to clear up the differing opinions among the various circuit courts. It really is disappointing.”
The decision means prayers are still allowed, but the county must police the words to make sure one faith group is not represented over another faith group.
“America’s founders never shied away from referencing the God to whom they were praying when offering public invocations; the citizens of Forsyth County should have this same opportunity,” Cortman wrote in a statement. “No federal court has ruled that prayers cannot be offered before public meetings.”
With reporting from the Associated Press
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it seems to me that this banning of "Jesus" prayers is only in the context of Government. There is separation of Church and State for a reason. If there weren't it would be an image of Vatican city where it is a Church and State Government. This decision cannot be for Private Prayer because the ability to regulate private concerns is repugnant to this country. This is quite clearly in my view acceptable because it deals with government and franchisee's of gov't in offical capacity only. My prayers are private as they should be and this affects them in no way whatsoever.
Well, if Jesus didn't want his disciples to take up arms against Rome because his Kingdom wasn't of this world…and you see it being done by so called "christians" then the logical fact must be that they are not christian and do not know Jesus. What?
So that's what counts as logic to the Christian, to claim his fellow Christian isn't christian enough, only Chris is the "true christian"….. You really can't show the insane their sickness. brainwashing is a terrible thing Chris, time to deprogram….. http://articles.cnn.com/2010-08-27/living/almost.christian_1_teens-share-moralistic-therapeutic-deism-dean-talks?_s=PM:LIVING
ACLU leaders! Take note: When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It's your life that must change, not your skin! And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire. You are known by your fruits!
ACLU and your colleauges, get your-hell out of our life!
You first!!! frankly were you not forever trying to invoke yourselves into our lives, homes and medical decissions, You'd have a better leg to stand on with your statement. So get out of mine and the rest out here who don't believe your book or your god.
Victory for the ACLU and victory for the United States Constitution! Keep your superstitious and ludicrous chants to your imaginary, invisible sky fairy out of our lives and out of our government. You don't see us marching around demanding every government meeting be opened up with atheist propaganda like "god is a myth." You keep your religion out of government and we'll keep our atheism out of government. Fair is fair.
David Cortman is incorrect!
Ahhhh the Faux Christians…. http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/20/opinion/martin-gop-family-values/index.html?hpt=hp_bn9
Ahhhh the Faux Christians…. http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/20/opinion/martin-gop-family-values/index.html?hpt=hp_bn9
all of us Believers who love the one who washed the feet of his own disciples as an example that we should serve others and help the needy…. who know the love of Jesus is beyond comprehension should join together to pray for David Lampo.
Why do people always try to manipulate the meaning of the First Ammendment to suit themselves? What the forfathers of our country meant by "seperation of church and state" was freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. The first ammendment was intended to keep the government from forcing people to worship in a church chosen by the government. (Such as in England where people were forced to worship in the Church of England). It was written to ensure that people could worship at a church of their own choosing and to worship God in the way we choose. It was never intended to give anyone the right to keep people from praying publicly at a government function. If you don't want to participate in public prayer, leave the room until the rest have finished praying. Christians are the majority in this country not the minority.
"In God We Trust".