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S.C. town's prayers provoke lawsuits***GREAT FALLS, S.C. — Jesus no longer has a place in prayers that open Town Council meetings here.

The long-standing practice in this old mill town, about 35 miles north of Columbia, was struck down last year in response to a lawsuit filed by a follower of Wicca, a pagan religion characterized by witchcraft and attention to earthly seasons. A federal judge — and then a federal appeals court — found the Town Council's prayers invoking Christ's name unconstitutional on grounds that they advanced one religion over others.

Across Georgia, county commissions and city councils, as well as the state Legislature, routinely begin their public business with prayers invoking Christ's name. Two weeks ago, the Georgia ACLU filed a federal lawsuit similar to the one against Great Falls that seeks to halt Christian prayers before Cobb County Commission meetings. The suit's outcome may set a legal precedent that Georgia governments must follow.

The case again has roiled discussion over the dividing line between church and state. Few issues have sparked as much debate and generated as many diverse opinions. After all, just before the first Congress drafted the First Amendment's religion clauses, it approved the appointment of two legislative chaplains and gave them ample salaries.

"Government-mandated prayers were traditionally the most egregious features of religious establishments and have thus always been viewed suspiciously as first steps on the slippery slope toward new religious establishments," said John Witte Jr., director of Emory University's Center for the Study of Law and Religion. ………..***

people should be free to do whatever they want as long as it doesn't interfere with others is not evil. >>

I used to say that too, then AIDS came to be, causing much suffering, disease, and death and a tremendous burden to the taxpayers (the public) and health-care system. Libertarians and others such as liberals used to say, and still do say "it's OK if it's between two (or more) consenting adults."

at the turn of the century one could buy a hypodermic needle filled with drugs from the Sears & Roebuck catalog, about half of the American housewives were addicted and subsequently the drug laws were passed to save many lives. It affects us all. That's why many conservatives are not libertarians.

And it's hard enough raising teens without us rubber stamping pagan festivals. Our country and most families are built upon Christian Values recognizing the one and true God, his 10 commandments and moral code, approving this can be a sign to them that it's OK to follow the occult.