Separation of church and state? Not in metro Atlanta.
At a court proceeding in Newton County today, the presiding Superior Court Judge called in a religious leader to begin the proceedings with a prayer, which invoked Jesus Christ.
The US Supreme Court rulings on government prayer prohibit the invocation of a specific deity – whether it be Jesus Christ or Allah or Buddha.
The Newton County Judge not only permitted the courthouse prayer but – in another breach of the Supreme Court ruling – did not provide members of the jury pool the opportunity to not participate or to be absent during the prayer.
The prayer in Newton County Courthouse also crossed other lines set by Marsh v. Chambers, 463 US.783 (1983), which is the legal benchmark for legislative prayer:
- Invocation of Jesus Christ to the total exclusion of the deities or entities of other faiths or denominations, and
- Calling a religious leader to present the prayer who represented only one particular faith.
Since the Marsh precedent was set in 1983, the Supreme Court has upheld subsequent rulings requiring that legislative prayers be nonsectarian, stating that the government cannot justify affiliation with “any one specific faith or belief.”
In addition to being subject to an unconstitutional prayer session in the courthouse, prospective jurors were asked to swear or affirm a statement including a reference to God, an inclusion which is also ruled by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment.
Does this represent the Newton County Court System or is it the action of one errant judge?
Can the public permit Newton County or this judge to reject nationwide rulings and precedents?
Please tell us your perspective in the comment section below.
Comments
Interesting that it says in the bible not to swear an oath. "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation." James 5:12
Tell the court it is blasphemous to pray in the open!
"And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward. But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly." Matthew 6:5-6 KJV
The South has historically been defiant when it comes to separation of church and state. It is very sad when this continues in today's world and so openly in the court system where the laws are made and enforced. Religion is a personal matter and regardless of which one we choose to accept or reject is not a matter that should forced upon those chosen to enforce or sit in judgement of others. As long as it is allowed, and overlooked it will continue. Thankfully there are those of us who recognize this as wrong and are willing to speak up when we are subjected to these types of blatant disregard for what this country stands.
Ironically, I was in that jury pool yesterday. While, I thought at the time, it was a bold move for the judge to call for prayer by a local pastor, I welcomed it. I did wonder what the reaction would be from people of other faiths, or their lack if it, that were there also. Evidently, someone in the room with me did not agree with it. I actually thought that it was a normal part of the proceedings, it being the first time I had jury duty in Newton County. I will say this, the majority of the room said "Amen" at the end of the prayer and no one disagreed at time or to my knowledge, after the judge left the jury pool room. The prayer was not, and I repeat not, in the court room. It was in the waiting room where the jurors wait to be called in to be screened/questioned. And, I would like to add that the judge did give everyone instruction that if they had a question or did not want to discuss anything in front of the other jurors, they had the opportunity to speak to him privately at the bench or in chambers. After the prayer, or after he left the room, no one raised their hand or spoke to one of the officials to my knowledge. I will say this, if the defendant in the case, that I was NOT selected for, is guilty...they NEED Jesus or Allah or whoever they pray too!
Good points Nita, you are correct, the prayer and the swearing in were both held in the jury pool room inside the courthouse - which still makes it a government sponsored prayer, subject to legislative rulings - presumably. The article will be updated to to change 'courtroom' to 'courthouse'.
To the best of my knowledge the judge and his officials were approached on the issue on at least three occasions, and it was discussed in closed chambers in front of both lawyers, judge, defendant and other officials.
The judge had no comment regarding the prayer in closed chambers but did discuss the swearing in/affirmation wording - stating that it was required verbiage provided to the court under a government statute.
Additional clarification: the jury pool of around one hundred people were prohibited from leaving the jury pool room once they had signed in. When the judge called the pastor to pray, he requested them all to stand. None of the occupants were provided the opportunity to remove themselves from the room.
It's habit more than anything else. Decades worth. Stuff you grew up with.
It can't help but appear as normal to those unable to see further than their own valley.
It's time they shared the stage.
x
Got news! You can never seperate God from His creations. You can push Him out of your heart and in your life; but you can never push Him out of His own world. If we had a little more praying in the court room; maybe we wouldn't have so much shooting in them. What are your people afraid of - if you are afraid of God - just say so. If you want to try and get rid of Him because you do not want to live a righteous life - say so. But you will never, never, never, push God so far away that He will not forgive you, wrap His arms of love around you, and bring you into an intimate relationship with Him that will bring your more enjoyment and fulfilment than you can ever image. God may withdraw His protection and blessings from this country; but no mere man or woman will ever rid the world of God. God was. God is. God will always be. And nothing anything or any law and say will change that. The Bible ask, "Where can I go that God is not there?" The answer is nowhere. In this sin sick nation of ours the President can entertain and dine Muslims and protect their religious rites; but it is okay for them to pray in the streets, the airports, the schools or anywhere they happen to be at their prayer time; but the 15 or so young Christians could not pray silently in front of the Supreme Count as they were told it was against the law. God's laws can be changed - God's laws will never change; and while we are allowed our own free will choice - there are consequences for choosing.
If this judge is allowed to call on a Christian pastor, other judges might follow and call their on their religious leaders whether a Rabbi, Imam, or Buddhist monk, what then?
Grettel, that's precisely the Supreme Court's point - either all should be represented, or none.
Because this was not done in the courtroom or during trial it isn't against any law.
Also, this judge has called on several different religious leaders in the past.
This falls upon both what seems to be a mistake and what seems to be a personal belief. I think the U.S itself needs to re-look at the United States Constitution and Amendments. The country was established by basic laws of the time but was allowed to add progressive ones as time and society increased sophistication.
The reason for the First Amendment religious clauses was that the citizens couldn't agree on religion. It is clearly intended to keep religion out of government and government out of religion.
Most Americans aren't aware of the persecution of minority sects in the colonies. When the Anglican Church was the state religion of Virginia, children of Baptists were even taken from the parents to be raised properly in Anglican homes!.
Gal 2:15-16 (TCN) ...Know that no one is pronounced righteous [good] as the result of obedience to Law, but only through faith in Christ Jesus. So we place our faith in Christ Jesus, in order that we might be pronounced righteous, as the result of faith in Christ, and not of obedience to Law...
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