More General Assembly newsRICHMOND
Keep the names of specific deities out of the public square during official events.
That's essentially what a Senate committee's Democratic majority decreed Monday when it defeated a bill that would have restored to State Police chaplains the ability to offer prayers that reference specific higher powers, such as Jesus Christ or Allah.
The measure, HB2314, which was sponsored by Del. Charles W. "Bill" Carrico Sr., R-Grayson, sought to undo a policy adopted last year by State Police Superintendent W. Steven Flaherty requiring chaplains to deliver non-sectarian prayers at government-sanctioned events.
Carrico's bill was killed on an 8-7 party-line vote in the Senate Courts of Justice committee after nearly an hour of debate.
Flaherty's policy, which he adopted in response to a federal court ruling about prayers at government functions, requires State Police troopers who serve as voluntary chaplains to deliver non-sectarian prayers at certain public events.
In protest, six of 17 troopers who serve as chaplains resigned the religious portions of their duties in the fall.
Opponents of the policy such as Carrico, a former State Police trooper, view the police rule as an attack on Christianity.
"The Christian faith has been persecuted in this country for too long, and people are tired of it," Carrico said after his bill was killed, vowing to introduce similar legislation next year.
During testimony to the committee earlier Monday, he equated a "non-secular" policy to "a no-god religion."
An American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia lobbyist testified against the bill Monday, as did Michael Shochet, chaplain coordinator for the Fairfax Police Department.
"I urge you to vote against this bill so that police chaplains all over the commonwealth remember how important it is that they represent the government when they put on their uniforms," said Shochet, a cantor at a Northern Virginia synagogue.
Officials with the Family Foundation of Virginia were among those who testified in support of the legislation.
"The birthplace of religious freedom is now the home of censorship and bigotry," foundation President Victoria Cobb said in a written statement issued later Monday.
The State Police policy stems from litigation brought by Fredericksburg City Councilman Hashmel C. Turner Jr., an ordained minister who objected to a council rule that meeting-opening prayers be free of specific faith references.
In a July opinion, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the legality of the council regulation.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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Thanks, Len
The point I was trying to make (which you got but citizenva apparently did not)was that it is NOT the government's job to raise our children; that's the job of parents, grandparents, coaches, and youth group leaders. Society gets the children WE raise. We Christians have as much dysfunction in our lives as everyone else so we certainly don't have all the answers -- after all we're merely human -- and we don't have a monopoly on morality. We would all do well to remove the log from our own eye before we remove the speck from our neighbor's eye.
citizenva, do you really believe
that Christians are not tolerated in society? The vast majority doesn't tolerate itself?
That is a stretch.
And do you really believe that Jesus would mandate that Christians only help Christians in a disaster? Or anytime, for that matter? What kind of Christians would we be if that were how we responded to those in need?
Christianity is not an insurance company that helps only those who paid.
Del. Charles Carrico's statement:
"The Christian faith has been persecuted in this country for too long, and people are tired of it," is a bit of hyperbole considering we are about 80% Christian.
I don't think Carrico has a clue what true minority, ethnic or religious persecution really is.
China and the Falun Gong or Iran and the Bahai are examples of real religious persecution.
Carrico is just pulling the O'Reilly sham of the assault on Christmas as a way to continue the divisiveness for partisan and political gain.
Shame on him.
Let the government do it
So, reading the comments its clear to me that society wants the governement to 'legislate' morality, so in essence once a child is born the governement should take the child away from the parents and raise it the governement way.
And since Christians are not to be tolerated in society I believe then that all christian churches and orgainziations should only lend help to christians. The next time a natural disaster strikes then, christians should help christians, and the goverment should help everyone else, guess who will get the most the help? Think Katrina.
Let the government do it, seems to be the new mantra these days.
Would these chaplains feel the same way
if one wanted to lead with a satanic prayer? Or how about a Wiccan prayer? Would they cry censorship then?
Ouch, Archie!
While what you say makes sense to a portion of the population, me included, there are many who will find your words a bit harsh. "Spiritual crutch" is a tad strong for those who firmly believe in "God" and somewhat demeaning. While it is okay to disagree, it is a bit over the top to be disrespectful. I should know, eh, since I am often accused of it myself when it comes to my firm stance against tobacco products.
Dump Religion
The Christian religion is an anachronism and it is time it died a final death, taking with it the Christs, the Popes, the ignorance of science, the imbecilic evangelical beliefs and all the time-worn, useless gods and goddesses of Christianity.
What rational reason would there be for a police force to have chaplains? If someone needs a spiritual crutch, let them get it without the facade of officialdom.
Good For Them
Can't make everyone happy all the time - seems the state feels they don't need these men and women so why not spend more time where they are wanted.
You May Be Right
But the Virginia Consitution is even clearer than the US Constitution that public officials (and that includes police chaplains) cannot in a public setting favor one religion over another. If we want to fix that we'll need to amend the Constitution. The delegates who voted for this bill know that; their vote was largely symbolic. As a Christian I must disagree with your suggestions that only Christians are capable of acting morally and that it is the obligation of government to legislate morality. Those symptoms of societal breakdown you cite are just as present among Christians. We learn right and wrong at home and in our places of worship, not in our schools, on TV, or in the state legislature. Our society is breaking down because we're losing a sense of community. It's become us vs. them rather than loving our neighbors as ourselves and taking care of each other.
couldn't disagree more
When a society tries to appease and satisfy all groups, the society becomes divided. A divided society cannot stand (not for long).
This country is crumbling as each of the institutions that built her are torn down by individual interests (ethnic, religious, economic, social, political, etc). We were founded on Christian principles by men that recognized a single higher power. Look where straying from those principles has gotten us.
Our schools are mess, our children can't add 2+7 and get the right answer, but they get pregnant at 12, 13, 14..., father's are doing drugs and in prisons, murder is common, the divorce rate is over 50%, legislators want to recognize gay marriage, alcohol use is widespread, and the list goes on. We are a godless society, but that godlessness is almost encouraged at every turn as we tear down morality, wipe God from our schools and public places, and as we celebrate irresponsibility.
Judgment day is going to be ugly!
amen....
What you do in a private setting is fine but once out in public it is different, that is why we go to churches, temples, etc. In a public setting, we all need to be sensitive to the many different religions and beliefs. Being respectful and tolerant makes our world a more peaceful place to live.