Federal court halts Christian prayers at North Carolina county meetings [W:656]

[TheDemSocialist]

A federal court has ordered the Rowan County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina to stop opening its meetings with overtly Christian prayers.
In a news release, the American Civil Liberties Union said the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina prohibited the county from “knowingly and/or intentionally delivering or allowing to be delivered sectarian prayers” at official board meetings.


The lawsuit alleged that the board’s opening prayers had included unmistakably Christian phrases, such as “the birth of Jesus Christ,” “the guidance of the Holy Spirit,” “the resurrection,” and the “virgin birth.” More than 97 percent of board meetings since 2007 opened with Christian prayers, according to the ACLU.


The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled last year that Greece, New York violated the First Amendment by holding Christian prayers at town board meetings. The case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is expected to rule on prayers at government meetings by June 2014.

Read more @: Federal court halts Christian prayers at North Carolina county meetings | The Raw Story

A big win for civil liberties. All members should be treated equally and government bodies should not open sessions with a prayer. This is a win for a cornerstone on the Separation of Church and State.

 

[greyhat]

Federal court halts Christian prayers at North Carolina county meetings

Good- this isn't a theocracy- keep your religion to yourself!

 

[Caine]

Read more @: Federal court halts Christian prayers at North Carolina county meetings | The Raw Story

A big win for civil liberties. All members should be treated equally and government bodies should not open sessions with a prayer. This is a win for a cornerstone on the Separation of Church and State.

No big deal really. I mean sure, they shouldn't have been using specifically christian themes, but I don't see how this is such a big deal really. A few words have to be removed from a prayer........


Whooooop-
IDY-
DOOOOOOOOOO

The only people who get excited about this **** are people who want to snub religion in anyway way shape or form.

Im a deist and I don't see what the big deal is.

 

[TheDemSocialist]

No big deal really. I mean sure, they shouldn't have been using specifically christian themes, but I don't see how this is such a big deal really. A few words have to be removed from a prayer........


Whooooop-
IDY-
DOOOOOOOOOO

The only people who get excited about this **** are people who want to snub religion in anyway way shape or form.

Im a deist and I don't see what the big deal is.

Separation of church and state, not endorsing a religion.

 

[Caine]

Separation of church and state, not endorsing a religion.

Saying a prayer is not akin to endorsing a religion.

Granted they shouldn't be mentioning a specific religion, I agree....

I just fail to see how this is a big deal.

 

[TheDemSocialist]

Saying a prayer is not akin to endorsing a religion.

When you pray to a "god" or say a prayer based on a certain religion how is that not "endorsing" that religion?

Granted they shouldn't be mentioning a specific religion, I agree....

:2razz:

I just fail to see how this is a big deal.

I dont know. Civil liberties? :2wave:

 

[tererun]

Saying a prayer is not akin to endorsing a religion.

Granted they shouldn't be mentioning a specific religion, I agree....

I just fail to see how this is a big deal.

You are a libertarian and government endorsed religion is cool with you and no big deal? do you know what libertarian means?

 

[Deuce]

You are a libertarian and government endorsed religion is cool with you and no big deal? do you know what libertarian means?

If they'd read a passage from Islamic texts he'd flip his ****, of course.

 

[greyhat]

Federal court halts Christian prayers at North Carolina county meetings

If they'd read a passage from Islamic texts he'd flip his ****, of course.

Yep they would go ape ****! I guess it's freedoms of religion, unless its the one I practice, in that case we don't give a ****...

 

[Caine]

When you pray to a "god" or say a prayer based on a certain religion how is that not "endorsing" that religion?



:2razz:


I dont know. Civil liberties? :2wave:

Praying in someone else's presence is NOT a revocation of their civil liberties.

 

[Caine]

You are a libertarian and government endorsed religion is cool with you and no big deal? do you know what libertarian means?

I fail to see where government is endorsing religion by a group of people praying.

 

[TheNextEra]

Saying a prayer is not akin to endorsing a religion.
.

You sure about that? You're telling me if a Democrat opened up a council meeting with a prayer from a Satanic cult, the right wouldn't go bonkers that a Dem is endorsing Satanic cults? Gimme a break.

Yes, a prayer IS endorsing a religion.

 

[Caine]

If they'd read a passage from Islamic texts he'd flip his ****, of course.

Please quote me where I've said anything against islam....

I think you are just jumping to ignorant conclusions because you somehow thing Im some Christian Crusader..... Im not.

Im a ****ing Deist, I give two ****s about "revealed" religions. But a small group of people praying at a RURAL North Carolina county board isn't the end of the world, or an endorsement of religion.

Have you ever BEEN to Rowan County, NC?

 

[TheNextEra]

I fail to see where government is endorsing religion by a group of people praying.

If those people want to gather BEFORE an OFFICIAL meeting to pray, be my guest. But, when OFFICIAL business is starting off by prayer, yes, that is endorsing a religion officially.

 

[TheNextEra]

Please quote me where I've said anything against islam....

I think you are just jumping to ignorant conclusions because you somehow thing Im some Christian Crusader..... Im not.

Im a ****ing Deist, I give two ****s about "revealed" religions. But a small group of people praying at a RURAL North Carolina county board isn't the end of the world, or an endorsement of religion.

Have you ever BEEN to Rowan County, NC?

Your actually saying they can't do this BEFORE they start an official meeting is HAS TO BE DONE AT the meeting?

 

[davidtaylorjr]

Read more @: Federal court halts Christian prayers at North Carolina county meetings | The Raw Story

A big win for civil liberties. All members should be treated equally and government bodies should not open sessions with a prayer. This is a win for a cornerstone on the Separation of Church and State.

So much for free speech and freedom of religion.....

 

[Caine]

You sure about that? You're telling me if a Democrat opened up a council meeting with a prayer from a Satanic cult, the right wouldn't go bonkers that a Dem is endorsing Satanic cults? Gimme a break.

Yes, a prayer IS endorsing a religion.

I don't give a crap what "the right" would do. And if there were Satanic Cult people on that council who were okay with it, I would give two ****s less.

What prayers and opening traditions a small local council group does at their meetings is between them.

 

[davidtaylorjr]

If those people want to gather BEFORE an OFFICIAL meeting to pray, be my guest. But, when OFFICIAL business is starting off by prayer, yes, that is endorsing a religion officially.

The Constitution says CONGRESS shall make no law. They are not Congress, nor are they making a law. Not a violation.

 

[Caine]

Your actually saying they can't do this BEFORE they start an official meeting is HAS TO BE DONE AT the meeting?

If that is what they want to do.

 

[Josie]

Why on earth would anyone be offended by a prayer that probably speaks about making the right decisions for the citizens of the county, being kind to each other, opening their minds to others' opinions, being patient and understanding and helping others who are in need? Man.... that's just hateful.

Seriously. Unless you're praying to some evil spirit who wants you to kill the people you're supposed to be protecting, what's the big deal?

 

[TheNextEra]

I don't give a crap what "the right" would do. And if there were Satanic Cult people on that council who were okay with it, I would give two ****s less.

What prayers and opening traditions a small local council group does at their meetings is between them.

Yeah right :roll: You and the other righties would be going balistic.

 

[TheNextEra]

The Constitution says CONGRESS shall make no law. They are not Congress, nor are they making a law. Not a violation.

I didn't say it WAS a violation, I said it was endorsing a religion. Go thump your bible elsewhere.

 

[Caine]

Yeah right :roll: You and the other righties would be going balistic.

Do you have anything to add other than partisan bull****?

 

[Caine]

I didn't say it WAS a violation, I said it was endorsing a religion. Go thump your bible elsewhere.

Its not endorsing a religion....... Its the council members praying together before making decisions for the people that elected them into office.

 

[greyhat]

Federal court halts Christian prayers at North Carolina county meetings

Freedom of religion also means freedom FROM religion! No one is denying them the right to pray- I fully support people's right to prayer, I could care less which god you pray to; however when this praying is done while in the process of conducting official government business then we have a problem!