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Town won't put 'Jesus' in prayers (wiccan filed lawsuit and won..ARGH!)
Heraldonline ^ | June 30, 2005 | Andrew Dys

Posted on 07/02/2005 2:28:50 AM PDT by FeeinTennessee

Town won't put 'Jesus' in prayers Wiccan's suit to keep words out of Great Falls council's pre-meeting prayer upheld

By Andrew Dys The Herald

The town of Great Falls lost its four-year legal battle to keep the name "Jesus Christ" in its council meeting prayers Tuesday. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the Chester County town's appeal of a lower court decision that it improperly favored one faith with its prayers.

The decision ends an often contentious case that pitted the Town Council against a resident who is a Wiccan high priestess.

"This sends a message that this behavior is unacceptable," said Darla Wynne, whose 2001 lawsuit started the legal battle. Wynne practices Wicca, a nature-based religion based on ancient Western European and pre-Christian beliefs.

She said her victory made her feel a sense of accomplishment for the "little guy." Wynne was opposed by some religious leaders and the state's attorney general during her legal fight.

The town's lawyer, Michael Hemlepp, said he will advise Great Falls officials to "obey the law."

The council has not mentioned Jesus in prayers after a 2003 ruling in Wynne's favor, said Town Councilman J.C. Broom, who usually leads the prayers before meetings.

"The people down here wanted us to continue the fight," Broom said. "Even the president's inauguration prayer mentioned Jesus. I'm terribly disappointed."

Emotional advocates on both sides of the issue seized on Wynne's lawsuit to fuel ongoing national debate over the separation of church and state.

The American Civil Liberties Union, American Jewish Congress and Americans for the Separation of Church and State all sided with Wynne, while the S.C. Attorney General's office and others sided with Great Falls.

Many in the town of about 2,200 signed petitions and attended meetings urging the council to go all the way to the Supreme Court.

"We have done what the majority of people wanted us to do," said Great Falls Mayor H.C. "Speedy" Starnes. "I think the town was solid behind us."

Ruling applies to large area

The legal ramifications go beyond Great Falls: The decision of the lower court, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, applies to both Carolinas and Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland.

"The court in this case was fairly clear this woman's freedom was being trampled by a legislative body," said Andrew Siegel, a University of South Carolina law professor and expert on Constitutional law. "They actively punished her and denied her full access to government because she dared stand up to them."

Towns or boards who now invoke the name Jesus Christ in prayers would violate a court order and "would do so at their own peril," said Herbert Buhl III, Wynne's lawyer.

The Rev. Mike Sollers, pastor at Evangel Temple Assembly of God church in Great Falls, called the decision by the Supreme Court not to hear the case "a sad day in America."

Sollers said many in the small town filled with mainly Christians opposed Wynne's lawsuit. Wynne sued "for the purpose of stirring things up," Sollers said. "The idea that she did this for the town is absurd and ridiculous."

S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster wrote to the Supreme Court earlier this year that Jesus has been mentioned in public prayers in South Carolinian since the state's infancy. In a statement Tuesday, McMaster said he was disappointed by the decision and hoped future "members of the federal judiciary will see things differently."

Buhl said the Attorney General's office decision to jump into the Great Falls legal fray was "for political reasons -- to look like they were friends of Jesus."

Great Falls also must pay Wynne more than $40,000 in legal fees, Buhl said.

"We'll have to find out some way to pay them," Starnes said.

Wynne has said that since the controversy began she has been the target of harassment, vandalism and violence. She vowed to stay in Great Falls and to continue to attend council meetings. The next meeting is July 18.

"I know they are trying to run me out of town, but I'm not going anywhere," Wynne said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: aclu; ajc; auscc
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Christians need to start standing up to this sort of tyranny before it gets out of hand.
1 posted on 07/02/2005 2:28:51 AM PDT by FeeinTennessee
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To: FeeinTennessee

"Towns or boards who now invoke the name Jesus Christ in prayers would violate a court order and "would do so at their own peril," said Herbert Buhl III, Wynne's lawyer."


Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:10-12


2 posted on 07/02/2005 2:41:28 AM PDT by happinesswithoutpeace (You are receiving this broadcast as a dream)
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This person is not a "REAL" "Wiccan"... She is a poseur, a money grubbing opportunist.and mere cannon-fodder for ambulance chasing lawyers.


3 posted on 07/02/2005 2:46:47 AM PDT by LegendHasIt
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To: FeeinTennessee

"Public Prayers?"

This doesn't make sense. If in official time they open their meeting with prayer or close it with prayer, then isn't that already in violation?

If they have a voluntary, pre-meeting prayer that is not part of the agenda, then, at that point, since it's free time, they can pray to anyone they want and it's nobody's business.

Even during official time, though, there is no way you can invite a clergyperson to speak and then tell him/her what to pray. It's ridiculous. Why not invite an auditor or engineer and tell him ahead of time what he's allowed to say? If you don't want their input, then don't invite them in the first place.



4 posted on 07/02/2005 2:49:38 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It!)
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To: xzins

If that has been the order in which things have been done for many years in S.C., there should be no protest. There are too many other important problems in our nation today to go after a town for invoking the name of Jesus. I think it is Jesus whose name we need to call on today, our country is in a mess!


5 posted on 07/02/2005 2:53:23 AM PDT by FeeinTennessee (www.saluteheroes.org.........www.peoplepolitical.org)
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To: FeeinTennessee

It's already out of hand. The eradication of the history of the US continues. Apparently we need to reach the stage of "the court has ruled, now let them enforce it." to misquote Andrew Jackson. The foundation and culture of the US is being erased.


6 posted on 07/02/2005 2:54:08 AM PDT by Truth29
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To: FeeinTennessee

Jesus is the answer. I've no doubt.

As an army chaplain, some tried to tell us not to use Jesus name to close our prayers. Of course, it wasn't heeded.

But, it makes sense not to heed it. In America we have lots of religions, and most are Christians. It's far better to be adults and recognize that. When the rabbi prays, he'll do his thing. When the Baptist prays he'll do his thing. When the Catholic, etc., etc.....and so on.

Just do the adult thing and admit there are a number of religions in America, accept freedom of religion, and then no one has to run around trying to police these arcane little details.


7 posted on 07/02/2005 3:01:10 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It!)
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To: Truth29

And it will be our fault if we sit back and let it happen.


8 posted on 07/02/2005 3:01:30 AM PDT by FeeinTennessee (www.saluteheroes.org.........www.peoplepolitical.org)
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To: FeeinTennessee

Well, I will use His name in prayer before, during and after they haul me off to the clink.


9 posted on 07/02/2005 3:29:41 AM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: FeeinTennessee

McBeth was a "little guy."


10 posted on 07/02/2005 3:31:33 AM PDT by Savage Beast (My parents, grandparents, and great grandparents were Democrats. My children are ALL Republicans!)
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To: FeeinTennessee

I think that it's already out of hand. I say burn the witch.


11 posted on 07/02/2005 3:33:09 AM PDT by highnoon (Vegatarian is an American Indian word for 'bad hunter')
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To: FeeinTennessee
Biology affected too. Court ruled that since terms such as tree refer to a Deity they can not longer be used. Picture books can still be used under new guide lines.

The NEA fully supports the courts position but claims the the controversial clause requiring teachers to demonstrate a picture book skill level 2 levels below the class that they are instructing. NEA claims that this is what Hitler, Stalin or Pol Pot etc., etc., etc........

12 posted on 07/02/2005 3:34:03 AM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: FeeinTennessee

The First prayer before any body of American Government -That by the Rev.Joh Duche Sep.7,1774,in the first Continental Congress invoked God--in the name and through
the merits of Jesu sChrist,Thy SOn an dour Savior.Amen"
for our godless Infidel Courts to NOT recognize the foundations nor to embrace the Truth that the Christian can
pray in no other Name --That evil woman-and the Courts that protect her are NOT American and ought be pressed to
accept the Thomas Paine option-and find a more prosperous
though desolate life exiled from these United States until-unless they Repent.


13 posted on 07/02/2005 4:33:14 AM PDT by StonyBurk
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To: FeeinTennessee

Isn't it wonderful being ruled by the lowest common denominator's in society.

Step 1) Erase all distinctions between right and wrong.
Step 2) Promote any behavior that was previously deemed unacceptable as being acceptable.
Step 3) Create laws to protect that behavior.
Step 4) Create laws to banish any thought or organization that might criticize that behavior.


14 posted on 07/02/2005 4:56:00 AM PDT by G Larry (Honor the fallen and the heroes of 9/11 at the Memorial Site.)
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To: FeeinTennessee

Hey, no problem, just take her home for economic development.


15 posted on 07/02/2005 5:04:50 AM PDT by Lord Basil (Hate isn't a family value; it's a liberal one.)
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To: FeeinTennessee

You are so right. Yet, once again, everyone else can be a god except Jesus. (sigh)


16 posted on 07/02/2005 5:08:26 AM PDT by Ladysmith ((NRA and SAS) WI Hunter Shootings: If you want on/off the WI Hunters ping list, please let me know.)
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To: FeeinTennessee

So, how does everybody feel about starting council meetings with a prayer for Saint Thomas Aquinas to intercede for wisdom? Any problems?


17 posted on 07/02/2005 5:17:57 AM PDT by Grut
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To: LegendHasIt

LegendHasIt wrote:
This person is not a "REAL" "Wiccan"... She is a poseur, a money grubbing opportunist.and mere cannon-fodder for ambulance chasing lawyers.




I agree.

An if a prayer that invokes the name of Jesus is so threatening to her, what does this say about the Priestess' confidence in her Goddess?



18 posted on 07/02/2005 6:22:47 AM PDT by tiamat ("If some guy named Marduk calls, tell him I'm not home!")
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To: Grut

From my point of view?

Can't hurt. Might help.

Go for it.


19 posted on 07/02/2005 6:27:41 AM PDT by tiamat ("If some guy named Marduk calls, tell him I'm not home!")
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Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


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