Wednesday, April 18, 2007

NC county officials will fight for invocations

Members of the board of commissioners in Forsyth County, North Carolina, have determined to fight a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union that challenges opening invocation prayers at their meetings. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. district court, specifically alleges that making reference to Jesus Christ in opening prayers is illegal.

The County's lead attorney on defense in the case, Mike Johnson of the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), counters that assertion, explaining that mention of "sectarian deities" in public governmental prayers is not in and of itself unconstitutional when "proselytizing" and "aggressive promotion" are not used. As well, he cites an already-existing constitutional precedent of government invocations with sectarian references, including those in the U.S. Congress.

Read more of the story on One News Now.

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