Va. Senate panel votes down bill allowing sectarian prayers

RICHMOND

A Senate panel today spiked a bill to allow sectarian prayers at government functions, less than one week after the House of Delegates passed similar legislation with a smaller scope.

Carried by Sen. Steve Martin, R-Chesterfield, SB1072 was designed to allow individuals offering prayers at government events to do so "from their hearts, following the dictates of their conscience."

To Martin, that means praying to the deity of their faith, whether they be Christian, Jewish, Muslim or another religion.

His bill died late this morning on a 9-6 vote in the Senate Courts of Justice committee.

The genesis of Martin's measure -- and the House version -- stems from the controversy that erupted last fall when the State Police adopted a policy requiring troopers who double as chaplains to deliver non-sectarian prayers at public events.

The policy was adopted in response to a federal court decision last summer that upheld the legality of similar a restriction by the Fredericksburg City Council.

In protest of that policy, six of 17 state police chaplains resigned the religious portion of their duties.

The House version, HB2314, passed that chamber on a 66-30 vote last week. It is specifically tailored to reverse the State Police policy. In contrast, the Senate bill had a more broad application to all public government events.

On behalf of Attorney General Bob McDonnell, Virginia Solicitor General Stephen McCullough told the panel the legislation is constitutional and could be defended if challenged in court.

The Senate panel last week asked for a legal opinion on the bill from the attorney general before taking action.

An official with the Virginia Municipal League spoke against Martin's bill, reasoning that it would expose local governments to litigation.

In a written statement, Family Foundation of Virginia president Victoria Cobb expressed disappointment at the Senate committee vote, adding that the social conservative group will continue to urge passage of the House prayer bill.

"No court anywhere in the United States has compelled censorship of public prayers before government bodies," she said, noting "courts have consistently stated that government cannot dictate the content of prayers at government sanctioned events."

Julian Walker, 804-697-1564 julian.walker@pilotonline.com