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Griffith
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Flaherty
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Prayer ruling tied to uproar
Controversy stirs over state police ruling on prayer
By CHELYEN DAVIS
Date published: 9/26/2008
RICHMOND-- A Fredericksburg court case has set off a flurry of accusations between Republicans and Democrats over public prayer.
The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld a Fredericksburg City Council ban on referring to Jesus Christ in public prayers that open council meetings.
So Virginia State Police Superintendent Col. Steve Flaherty directed state police chaplains to avoid references to Christ in their public prayers--they were told to use nondenominational prayers in public, although they could still refer to Christ in private counseling or at funerals. Six chaplains resigned their volunteer chaplain roles over the issue.
This week two Republican delegates accused Gov. Tim Kaine and Flaherty of an "attack on Christianity" for the directive. Kaine and other Democrats responded by accusing the Republicans of playing politics.
"With one misguided action, the Kaine administration has put the chaplains in an impossible position," said House Majority Leader Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, in a press release. "When troopers take on the added responsibility of serving as chaplains, they reinforce their commitment to serve the public. To then require those troopers to disregard their own faith while serving violates their First Amendment rights and prevents them from serving effectively as chaplains. These men had little choice but to resign."
Kaine said if Griffith had serious concerns, he'd have spoken to Kaine about them himself.
"[Griffith] has no facts to justify that, and I had just met with Morgan for two hours the previous day and if he had anything on his mind, he sure could have brought it up but he didn't," Kaine told reporters. "When somebody does something where the first thing I hear about it is a press release, rather than just calling me and saying 'hey governor, I've got a problem, can you help me here,' they don't care about the issue, they just care about politics."
Kaine said Flaherty was simply abiding by the court ruling, and he supports Flaherty's decision.
"Col. Flaherty read what that legal opinion did and gave some common-sense advice to his folks but I had nothing to do with it," Kaine said. "I am a very devout Christian and Catholic, I would never do anything to inhibit anybody's religious worship it doesn't diminish my ability to worship my God to pray to the father or lord without mentioning Jesus Christ."
Date published: 9/26/2008
Most recent reader comments:
This is so ridiculous! There should be no prayer before
(posted by
pinkphantom
, Sep. 27, 2008 12:35 pm)
the meetings. I can't believe this topic is still in the paper.
Those who insist on referring to one of the Christian godheads
(posted by
Tamerlane
, Sep. 27, 2008 1:32 am)
thus support Christianity as a polytheistic religion. All components of the Holy Trinity are supposed to be co-existent, co-powerful, of one substance and on and on and on. Thus, referecne to any of the three is acceptable under the Nicaen Creed, and a reference "God" should suffice, unless you just want to offend all the non-Christians present at the tax-funded venues, which is of course, the objective of those who protest the court rulings.
I don't understand
(posted by
Cereyn
, Sep. 27, 2008 12:55 am)
I don't understand why it is necessary to have a prayer at council meetings? It's completely unnecessary. I can't believe this is even an issue; it should be blatantly obvious.
Thanks Dharma41!
(posted by
MzFitz
, Sep. 26, 2008 11:43 pm)
I'm just sick of having to read the mother of Peaches make
false statements on a regular basis. She replies falsely
every time an issue is remotely related to education.
I noticed the punctuation after I posted. On several
occasions, I've tried to reply to comments. Unfortunately,
"administrative" issues have kept me from accessing my
account. I didn't think it would post, so I didn't proofread.
Again, thanks.
Are you Telling me that
(posted by
KizerSosey
, Sep. 26, 2008 11:37 pm)
in these situations someone could possibly be arrested for including the words "In Jesus name", but not for saying "for Christ's sake!", or "God D**n"?
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