The American Civil Liberties Union says the Oakland Township Board of Trustees violated the First Amendment during a meeting in which the name of Jesus Christ was invoked during a prayer.
A YouTube video of the Nov. 27 meeting shows Trustee Judy Keyes delivering the prayer, in which she stated, "We ask that you guide us Lord to search for what is right, what is good and to always seek the truth. We ask for your blessings on everybody in this room and all of Oakland Township. In Jesus’ name I pray – amen.”
A letter dated Feb. 26 from the ACLU to the trustees and Oakland Township Supervisor Terry Gonser cited the organization's objections to the prayer and urged the community to adopt a policy prohibiting such sectarian invocations. A response was requested by March 21.
"Under Well-established law, a governmental body offering a prayer
before a legislative session, Where that prayer singles out one religion over others, violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution," the letter stated.
Gonser said the township has not decided what action to take and that he planned to meet with township attorneys to discuss the matter, according to The Oakland Press.
“I think we have to be prudent and make sure we do it right,” Gonser told the newspaper.
[How do you think Oakland Township should respond to the ACLU's letter? Leave a comment]
I applaud our board for it's christian based prayer during any season...and encourage , this direction any time, to continue a practice our country was founded upon.
The ACLU has caused more problems than it has resolved. This Country has been founded on christian values,and in my view I will fight for that to continue. The ACLU contacts and harasses Oakland Township,but would not have the gall to contact and harass professional sports try making that complaint at a nascar race . Quite frankly The ACLU would have there rear ends handed to them post haste .
VIOLATING MY RIGHTS TO HERE THIS PRAYER
Dolores (Dee) Smith
It's only a matter of time before they are all recalled!
This organization should not be subsidized by our government. The ACLU has proven over and over again how far right they are. For 200 years we have survived without this type of meddling. Always on the wrong side. Continue with the prayers. I commend you for this brave and worthwhile endeavor.
..."I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there...Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits, aflame with righteousness, did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." -attributed to Alexis de Tocqueville The ACLU is an agenda based organization I believe that is contrary to a good and healthy America. "In God we trust" I wonder if these folks work through the religious holidays such as Christmas, or take the time off with pay" Hmmmmmmm??
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0463_0783_ZO.html
We are not a christian nation. We have never been a christian nation. We will never become a christian nation. We are (supposed to be) a secular nation! If anyone would like to see a non-secular government, I'll gladly purchase the one way ticket to Tehran so they can experience it first hand. Next time the board tries to pull a stunt like this, somebody should round up a group of Sadhus (http://bit.ly/13AQmaj) from India and let them roll around the floor naked while smoking who-knows-what... and this will be OK because I shall blindly proclaim us all as a Hindu nation. Time to get real.
As long as ministers from particular religions are not excluded or favored based on their representation in the community, it's fine. The ACLU knows this from many previous court cases (which they have lost) but ignores it to try to intimidate local communities who do not know the law. If an invited minister can’t make it, a Trustee who feels most comfortable should pray. Judy Keyes shouldn’t have to violate her beliefs by offering a completely generic prayer. Christians approach the throne of grace through Jesus, so it’s appropriate to end prayers in this manner. At the end of her perfectly acceptable prayer, she said “I pray in Jesus’ name, not “Oakland Township prays in Jesus’ name.” What a load of nonsense. America’s open forum for all beliefs is being challenged. No wonder some call it the Anti-Christian Liberties Union. An agnostic should pray to the Great Unknowable One Who Might Be There But Can’t Be Proven, while a secularist should pray in the name of Almighty Government. Oakland Township should stand firm, and the friendly atheists at the ACLU should read the free expression clause of the First Amendment and find someone else to harass.
This was not meant to be a country with all reference to religion removed. The First Continental Congress opened with prayer. http://chaplain.house.gov/archive/continental.html From the very beginnings of our country, prayer - usually quite sectarian in nature - was said at government meetings. BTW, the Constitution Convention did not have prayer - because they couldn't afford a chaplain. Luckily, I doubt Oakland Township would have that issue.
Different people hear things different ways and form different opinions based on their belief system. One person’s idea of nasty is another’s traditional values. We don’t know what went on before she spoke. Perhaps the minister who was invited couldn’t make it. I think the ACLU is fishing for trouble and should try a different lake. In this case they have overstepped their bounds.
“Bigot – someone who is rigidly devoted to his own group, religion, race or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.” Yes, there are a few bigots who identify as Christians, but what about the bigots who slam them into walls with hateful names because they have a different political opinion? “Teavangelicals. Run dirty campaigns, support gay bashing Tom McMillin?”