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Councils urged to take care in prayer
The Associated Press
The ACLU recently sent a letter to cities in Oconee, Seneca and Anderson counties, telling them to stop mentioning Jesus in prayers or lawsuits may follow.
ROCK HILL - At least two groups are urging local councils and boards in South Carolina to stop using Jesus Christ's name during prayers at public meetings.
But state Attorney General Henry McMaster said Monday he will not tell S.C. governments what to do despite the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to hear a town's appeal after a lower court told it to stop using Jesus' name.
Wiccan priestess Darla Wynne sued the town of Great Falls and won on the issue but still is fighting to get the town to pay her legal fees.
The American Civil Liberties Union asked McMaster to issue guidelines to cities about which invocations are legal, but McMaster, who sided with the town of Great Falls in the case, said the issue is best handled "within the purview of the municipalities themselves."
"We're not going to do that. All of these counties and county councils have attorneys that give them advice," McMaster said Monday. "We're not going to do that. It's not necessary to do that."
A constitutional argument over free speech and what constitutes a prayer meeting are potential legal issues that could be raised by dissenting public bodies who disagree with the federal court rulings, University of South Carolina constitutional-law professor Eldon Wedlock said.
The ACLU recently sent a letter to cities in Oconee, Seneca and Anderson counties, telling them to stop mentioning Jesus in prayers or lawsuits may follow.
The S.C. Municipal Association advised members recently that councils cannot refer to a specific deity in prayers at the meetings.
"This is the law of the land, and cities should obey the law," said association Executive Director Howard Duvall.
But the issue is "very emotional" for cities and council members, Duvall said. "We do tell them that their greatest liability would be legal fees for something the courts have said is illegal," he said.
The ACLU's Upstate chapter is not attending school board or other meetings looking for violators, but it will field complaint calls, President Mike Cubelo said.
"We don't go looking for trouble," Cubelo said. "It could be Allah or any god that would be specified. We are not picking on Jesus Christ."
However, councils, especially in the South, could think federal courts are overstepping boundaries and bring Jesus' name into prayer, Wedlock said.
"This could be an issue of civil disobedience," Wedlock said. "Religion is a fierce motivator. Cities could be pushed by people who have a popular resentment."
Wedlock said there are three options for S.C. councils, school boards and other public bodies: Nonsectarian prayers, a moment of silence or defiance of the rulings.
The Rock Hill City Council, for example, has asked its attorney Paul Dillingham for advice about prayers. Council member Jim Reno told The (Rock Hill) Herald after Great Falls lost the lawsuit that he wouldn't comply with the federal court decision.
Reno has not led a prayer since the decision - the council rotates prayers among members - but said last week he must follow his convictions.
"I will only offer a prayer in Jesus' name," Reno said.
He said he has gotten only positive feedback from constituents.
"Not one has been negative," Reno said.
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/local/12811979.htm
Posts: 163 | From: Houston TX | Registered: Sep 2005
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