Chesterfield County council thinks some religions better than others?

[Virginian]

I was just told about a situation in Chesterfield County. It seems the County Board of Supervisors opens their meetings with a prayer. To be fair, they take turns and that is supposed to keep it from leaning towards one religion.
A county citizen who attends the meetings on a regular basis, has requested permission to lead the prayer, because no one of her faith has yet been represented. She has been denyed that privilege because hers is not an authorized religion. She is a Wiccan.

Way back in the history of Chesterfield County, Baptists were locked up for practicing their faith because they weren't an authorized religion.

Can you Richmonders set me straight on this? Is this true? Do I have my facts straight?
I have looked through the Times Dispatch website, but this story seems to have many articles written on it and has lasted for more than two years. The paper does not give up it's old stories for free. They want payment to access them. The following links give descriptions of the articles.



COUNTY APPEALS WITCH CASE ; CHESTERFIELD DEFENDS POLICY AND ITS DECISION TO DENY WICCAN A CHANCE TO LEAD INVOCATION;>

CHESTERFIELD CONTINUES TO FIGHT WICCAN BLESSING;

CAN ACT OF PRAYER BE ACT OF INTOLERANCE, TOO?;

EFFORT TO BECOME MINISTER A BEWITCHING SAGA ; GETTING INTO A SEMINARY WASN'T EASY FOR WOMAN WHO PRACTICES `MAGICK';


COURT TO HEAR WICCAN'S APPEAL ; WITCH WAS DENIED THE CHANCE TO PRAY BEFORE CHESTERFIELD BOARD; >

WICCAN, COUNTY MAKE CASES ; COURT TO DECIDE IF CHESTERFIELD CAN EXCLUDE 'PRIESTESS' FROM PRAYER LIST;

4TH CIRCUIT RULES AGAINST WICCAN ; COURT DECIDES CHESTERFIELD MEETS REQUIREMENTS FOR LEGISLATIVE PRAYER;

BEWITCHED BY INSIDE TALE OF CASE;


SOME FAITHS AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR CHESTERFIELD SUPERVISORS; >

ACLU FILES PETITION ON BEHALF OF WICCAN WITCH;


A TIME TO WORSHIP GOD ; EVENT HAS ITS CRITICS, BUT PARTICIPANTS ENJOY EXPRESSING THEIR BELIEFS; >

[rodeodance]

1. glad to see the ACLU is involved in this case.

[Virginian]

2. It's about time.

This thing has been going on for a couple of years now.

[Nay]

3. Yes, it's true, and has been going on for quite a while. The head of

the ACLU here in Richmond, Kent Willis, says the ACLU will be taking her case. Personally, I think it is wonderful that this is happening, because it brings to a head the problems with Christians claiming to respect other religions, and claiming to be discriminated against and persecuted by everybody. Now it is the Christians who are very obviously the persecutors, and I hope it goes to the Supreme Court.

[Virginian]

4. Well, we all know being a good Christian is all about

church attendance. One must drink the kool aid of political indoctrination and join the congregation group think.

If you don't attend a church you are not a Christian, and if you don't attend their church, you are not a good Christian.

I guess some of them were born incorrectly the first time and require remedial birthing to be considered good Christians.

[cap]

5. what is an authorized religion?

eom

[magnolia]

6. And...

...WHO does the authorizing???

[Virginian]

7. The right wing fundies say who is authorized and who is not.

They are the ones who control republican politics.