Councilman "not allowed to pray in Jesus name", "crushing liberty"

[Bluebear]

Contact: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, 202-547-1735, 540-538-4741 cell

FREDERICKSBURG, Va., May 23 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Fredericksburg City Council has told the Rev. Hashmeal Turner that he is not allowed to pray in the “Name of Jesus,” at City Council meetings.

The vigil will be held on Tuesday, May 23, at 7:00 P.M., in front of the Fredericksburg, Virginia, City Hall building. The location is 715 Princess Anne Street.

The group will be supporting City Council member, the Rev. Hashmeal Turner, as he has filed an historic federal lawsuit against the City of Fredericksburg arguing that his First Amendment rights are being violated.

This marks the first time a lawsuit of this nature has been filed in federal court.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, comments, “We are gathering in support of the Rev. Hashmeal Turner’s right to pray according to his own faith tradition. No one should be told how they are to pray by civil authorities. The First Amendment affords every American the right to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience and faith practice. By denying Councilman Turner the right to pray in the ‘Name of Jesus,’ the City of Fredericksburg is crushing the principles of religious freedom and liberty. Both are cornerstones of a free and open society.”

For more information or interviews contact: Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney 202.547.1735 Cell: 540.538.4741

http://www.earnedmedia.org/cdc0523.htm

[kestrel91316]

1. So I assume that if they win this lawsuit, they will allow a satanist to

open the meeting with a prayer to the Dark Lord. Right?

Right??

Um, I thought so.

[Bluebear]

2. Yes, then a Buddhist monk, a rabbi, a shaman and so on.

Because it is all about freedom and inclusion. :sarcasm:

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. How about an atheist "prayer"?

"Let us bow our heads and spend a minute committing ourselves to be guided by reason rather than unthinking superstition."

[XboxWarrior]

18. Jesus will kick......

Satan's Ass.......

[Missy M]

3. Why don't all these people just pray in church.....

or at home. What is the purpose. Do they think all this public praying will stop the war, the killing, terrorism, murder, rape, corporate rape, feed the poor, heal the sick. Why aren't they filing a federal lawsuit to stop the war? Why aren't they putting all their time and money into helping people instead of making a point by praying at a City Council meeting? We must maintain separation of church and state and the City Council of Fredericksburg falls under the state.

[TechBear_Seattle]

6. They are incapable of thinking without "guidance" from above n/t

[lindisfarne]

7. Jesus didn't practice public prayer except in cases of blessing food.

Good thing they know their bible and are following jesus's example.

[kestrel91316]

15. Shhhhhh, you're NOT supposed to mention that part...........

[Roland99]

17. Because then they couldn't feign being offended or persecuted.

And where's the fun and challenge in that?

[jobycom]

4. I wonder if I'd be allowed to make love to my girlfriend at such meetings

Not that I have a girlfriend, just saying. There's a time and a place where perfectly legal and beautiful sentiments are considered out of place.

Besides, I doubt anyone is stopping the Reverend from praying to whomever he wants. They are just not allowing him to do it on government's nickel. Funny how for some Christians praying takes on the same meaning as flipping someone off.

[Warpy]

8. Why do they always have such a problem differentiating between

praying and forcing other people to pray? WHY?????????

Why do they feel so FUCKING PERSECUTED when other people just want to be left alone?

If we can come up with the reason and maybe a psych drug to treat the problem, we'll be on our way to true civilization.

For now, I guess they're just gonna have to get the occasional knuckle sandwich, literally or metaphorically.

[bunkerbuster1]

9. Because some people can't go take a dump without being led

in prayer.

That's why.

I didn't realize this until I moved to the Deep South. Having someone say "in Jesus name" about a dozen times or so per day is all normal shit to a lot of them.

It's real weird, and yeah, it grates on the nerves. I suspect this is a problem that can only be resolved with time, and many funerals.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. Would he feel the same about swearing in Jesus' name?

As in, "'Jesus H. Fucking Christ' if you wanna pray, pray on your own time."

[IdaBriggs]

11. I called to ask if he also supported Wiccans & Satanists --

(respectively) praying "in the name of the Goddess" and "in the name of the Horned One" but he hasn't called back yet.

As long as this is an "equal rights" issue, I can support it -- and just think what a coupe this will be for that issue! :)

[ContraBass Black]

12. He can pray to Jesus any time, quietly or silently.

God will hear him. Other people don't need to.

[nemo137]

16. Bingo!

I think he may have missed the bit in Matthew about "not on the street corners, as the hypocrites do."

Just sayin'

[Bill McBlueState]

13. this is why extremists *used to* like sep. of church and state

I don't know why they're all so surprised. As soon as religion is injected into government, government's going to want the right to regulate religion. It's precisely for that reason that Christians in an earlier era supported the separation of church and state.

[LibDemAlways]

14. Who gave him the right to pray at a city council meeting

in the first place? I take it he's an elected official and represents all the people of Fredericksburg. He's not there in a religious capacity. He ought to confine his prayers to church, his home, his car - in short, anywhere he is not performing his function as a secular public official. This one is a no-brainer.