Freedom of Judeo-Christian Religion
The Fourth Circuit has okayed a county's requirement that prayers used to open county meetings be made to a divinity that is "consistent with the Judeo-Christian tradition," (link is to a .pdf file of the opinion - the quotation is on page 5) in rejecting a Wiccan's attempt to get added to the list of people invited to lead such prayers.
Where are we going, and why are we in this handbasket?
posted by Dan at 5/05/2005 07:00:00 AM
3 Comments:
Reminds me of Andy Rooney being required to swear his oath in court "so help me God."
I wonder why they're so hung up on those words. What does it really mean to make an athiest swear by God anyways?
I'm a Christian and I have a real concern about that decision. If outside speakers are to be allowed to lead prayer, the county shouldn't be allowed to discriminate by view point. I assume that in Salt Lake City, they could exclude orthodox Christian prayers. In Fairfield, Iowa they might be able to anything inconsistent with TM.
The better way to handle the issue is for those who want to pray before a county meeting to pray on their own, before the meeting starts. Then they can pray with whomever they choose and in a way that is meaningful to them. As a Christian, I don't see any benefit in forcing others to make insincere prayers.
If cert is sought, here is betting it will be granted. But anyone who knows judge wilkinson or the fourth circuit would have been surprised if the result had been otherwise.
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