appeals courts says only judeo/christians can give invocations

[donsu]

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031782159571


The federal appeals court in Richmond ruled yesterday that the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors can exclude a member of the Wiccan faith from giving invocations at county meetings.

-snip-

The Virginia branch of the American Civil Liberties Union came to aid Simpson's case after she was rejected from joining the list of eligible clergy who may be invited to say the prayer during supervisors' meetings. The county policy limits that list to religions that follow Judeo-Christian traditions.
-snip-
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I think it's against the law to even have invocations, period.

[Bill McBlueState]

1. "Judeo-Christian"

Extremist Christians like to use the phrase "Judeo-Christian" to make their hatemongering seem more inclusive. But what does that really mean in this case? It sounds to me like any prayer that acknowledges Jesus as anything other than a first-century prophet would be forbidden, since it doesn't live up to the "Judeo" part of "Judeo-Christian."

And nobody can mention Abraham in a prayer, since he's a central figure in Islam.

What's left to pray about?

[blogbear]

3. But at least they briefly..

hang their heads and shut up!

[mikehiggins]

2. Oh my gosh golly

Is this one of those federal courts that are oppressing our poor Xtian brothers?

Or are they just interpreting the case law as it was brought before them, like judges are supposed to do.

It'll be up to SCUSA to decide if the law itself is a violation of the separation concept.

[rodeodance]

4. does it really exclude any but the J=C faith? I am not sure these

statement do that. I think it is poorly written article.



......But the three-judge panel that decided the Simpson case noted that the list of eligible clergy is a broad cross section of the county's religious groups. That "made plain was not affiliated with any one specific faith by opening its doors to a wide pool of clergy. The Judeo-Christian tradition is, after all, not a single faith but an umbrella covering many faiths."

Examining the Simpson case using a U.S. Supreme Court opinion about a state legislature's invocation policy, the panel found that because Chesterfield's policy does not "proselytize or advance" any one faith or belief, or "disparage any other," it fits within the Supreme Court's requirements for legislative prayer.

County Attorney Steven L. Micas said, "Chesterfield County's invocation policy was developed shortly after the Supreme Court of the United States established the constitutional ground rules for legislative invocations. Our policy exceeds the inclusiveness standards set by the court."

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Judeo-Christian faith

is a monotheistic faith which excludes polytheistic faiths such as Hinudism and shamanistic traditions. It is not an "umbrella"-at least not one that is open!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Then I wouldn't be welcome either

....isn't there something about not establishing a state religion? Seems to me by excluding Wiccans, Native American practitioners, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc, they ARE establishing a religion.

Hmm.....wonder what they would do if I had to testify in a VA courtroom and insisted on swearing on a copy of the Qu'ran? Or my husband insisted on swearing upon his chanupe (sacred pipe)?

[LiberalFighter]

7. Judges & Ruling

Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions by
published opinion. Judge Wilkinson wrote the opinion, in which
Judge Niemeyer and Judge Williams joined. Judge Niemeyer wrote
a concurring opinion.

Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III
Judge Paul V. Niemeyer
Judge Karen J. Williams

Ruling