The name of JESUS will live on through eternity while names of tyrants and their rulings will be relegated to the dust bins.
Posted on 07/24/2008 8:29:18 AM PDT by Sopater
WASHINGTON, July 23 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals today ruled that the city council of Fredericksburg, Virginia had proper authority to require "non-sectarian" prayer content and exclude council-member Rev. Hashmel Turner from the prayer rotation because he prayed "in Jesus' name."
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, writing the decision, said: "The restriction that prayers be nonsectarian in nature is designed to make the prayers accessible to people who come from a variety of backgrounds, not to exclude or disparage a particular faith."
Ironically, she admitted Turner was excluded from participating solely because of the Christian content of his prayer.
A full text copy of the decision, with added commentary by Chaplain Klingenschmitt is here: www.PrayInJesusName.org/Frenzy13/AgainstOconnor.pdf
Gordon James Klingenschmitt, the former Navy chaplain who faced court-martial for praying "in Jesus name" in uniform (but won the victory in Congress for other chaplains), defended Rev. Hashmel Turner:
"The Fredericksburg government violated everybody's rights by establishing a non-sectarian religion, and requiring all prayers conform, or face punishment of exclusion. Justice O'Connor showed her liberal colors today, by declaring the word 'Jesus' as illegal religious speech, which can be banned by any council who wishes to ignore the First Amendment as she did. Councilman Rev. Hashmel Turner should run for mayor, fire the other council-members, and re-write the prayer policy. And if he appeals to the Supreme Court, I pray he will win, in Jesus' name."
"For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD ' Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.' - Acts 17:23-28
this nation is doomed. the idiots have over run us. time to stock up on more ammo.
WHAT! I thought she was retired and gone fishing! What's she doing back?
It doesn’t really matter to me whether or not a city council meeting starts with a prayer. I don’t care. If the choice is between some mealy-mouthed non-specific prayer or no prayer at all, I would prefer they just get down to business (and cut taxes!).
As for prayer in public schools, I would solve that problem by eliminating public schools! (Which would cut taxes!)
“Father, we pray all this in the name of your dear Son whose name may not be mentioned here but is mentioned in Matthew 1:21 and spelled J-E-S-U-S, Amen.”
Sandra Day O’CONNOR, Associate Justice (Retired), Supreme Court of the United States, sitting by designation, and MOTZ and SHEDD, Circuit Judges.So I guess she's working as a substitute judge.
Affirmed by published opinion. Associate Justice O’Connor wrote the opinion, in which Judge Motz and Judge Shedd joined.
Amen.
The name of JESUS will live on through eternity while names of tyrants and their rulings will be relegated to the dust bins.
Somewhat of an oxymoron. So now instead of "Our Father which art in heaven", we can do the non-sectarian version like this, "To Whom it may concern...."
Maybe we should find a substitute idiot.
It is like everyone quits reading the First Amendment after the establishment clause. What about the freaking free exercise clause? Congress shall enact no laws interfering with the free exercise of religion.
Birthplace of George Washington.
"Hey You!"
Someone please point this out for me in the US Constitution. I have my hand pocket copy from the Heritage Foundation, and I simply cannot find O'Connor's assertion anywhere in it...
Was it edited out by the Heritage folks?
/sarcasm
Ask the antitheists here. They would say that any talk of the existence of god Himself is “religion” in disrespect to their no-god god.
The only prayer that is acceptable is “I a subject of the USSA, will hereby fork over my paycheck to the state to be apportioned by moral marxists who know better than I do.”
Agreed. I don’t remember anything about “non-sectarian” in the Constitution.
Of course, I know the framers never dreamed that simply saying a prayer constituted establishment of a government religion.
Someone please bring me up-to-date? Why is O'Connor involved in this? Is she not retired?
I have a big problem with judges who are not elected or appointed making decisions like this in appeals courts.
She may be a “visiting” judge but she has no authority to do so.
It is judicial tyranny.
Happens in Houston too but there is no accountablity. No quid pro quo.
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