While I usually write about state issues, I occasionally discuss federal issues and our leaders serving in Washington. This week, I’d like to reprint a news release I received from Washington:
Joe MackCongressman Gresham Barrett re-introduced legislation that seeks to protect the right of elected and appointed officials to express their religious beliefs through public prayer by removing all establishment clause cases involving prayer by public officials to the jurisdiction of state courts. The Public Prayer Protection Act was introduced this morning with 35 original co-sponsors.
“I can’t sit back and watch our First Amendment rights be eroded by a few activist judges,” said Barrett. “We have seen a trend recently in the federal court system toward removing religion from our public society. Now we are seeing outside groups like the ACLU come into our own backyard, and something needs to be done to ensure the constitutional rights guaranteed to all Americans are protected.”
The right of public officials to refer to a specific deity when offering a public prayer has come under increasing attack. For example, a South Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union claimed a 2004 Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals case, Wynne v. Town of Great Falls, created an all-out ban on sectarian prayer by public officials, including federal, state and local legislators. Lawsuits have also been threatened against Oconee and Anderson County councils unless public officials refrain from praying to Jesus in public.
“The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, not freedom from religion, and the Public Prayer Protection Act seeks to reaffirm that right given to all of us,” said Barrett.
South Carolina Congressmen Joe Wilson and Henry Brown were among the original co-sponsors of this bill. I appreciate these men for being bold enough to stand firm to protect an individual’s rights and freedoms to pray in the public square.
While they stand tall on our behalf, won’t you get on your knees for them? Please continue to pray for all our elected officials as they work to keep our state and our country strong.