WASHINGTON — The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals today ruled that the city council of Fredericksburg, Virginia had proper authority to require “non-sectarian” prayer content and exclude council-member Rev. Hashmel Turner from the prayer rotation because he prayed “in Jesus’ name.”
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, writing the decision, said:
“The restriction that prayers be nonsectarian in nature is designed to make the prayers accessible to people who come from a variety of backgrounds, not to exclude or disparage a particular faith.”
Ironically, she admitted Turner was excluded from participating solely because of the Christian content of his prayer.
A full text copy of the decision, with added commentary by Chaplain Klingenschmitt is here: www.PrayInJesusName.org/Frenzy13/AgainstOconnor.pdf
Gordon James Klingenschmitt, the former Navy chaplain who faced court-martial for praying “in Jesus name” in uniform (but won the victory in Congress for other chaplains), defended Rev. Hashmel Turner:
“The Fredericksburg government violated everybody’s rights by establishing a non-sectarian religion, and requiring all prayers conform, or face punishment of exclusion. Justice O’Connor showed her liberal colors today, by declaring the word ‘Jesus’ as illegal religious speech, which can be banned by any council who wishes to ignore the First Amendment as she did. Councilman Rev. Hashmel Turner should run for mayor, fire the other council-members, and re-write the prayer policy. And if he appeals to the Supreme Court, I pray he will win, in Jesus’ name.”
Many educated and influential people think that they’ve got dibs on the precise “411” about the “right way” of doing things. Because of what’s in their minds, they really believe that it’s “the right way”, and they just “know” that this IS for “EVERYBODY”. But the truth is, many of us have our “own” opinions about things. We also think that there is a “correct” way in which everyone else should be doing things. But those of us who are “more mature” and peaceful in our thinking, won’t try to force our opinions down the throats of everyone else. We express it, and if no agreement, agree to disagree, allow the rest of the world to do their thing; and we keep it moving with our lives doing our thing. But the “less mature” are so adamant that they have to actually force us to do it their way. They go all the way live to the point of making laws to force us to do things their way because they think they “know” what’s best for all. Well, intelligent ones, please get a clue: if someone does not want to do something, all the forcing of their physical bodies will not make it so. In the rebel’s “mind”, he will still be saying and doing the “NO” thing. And in his/her spirit, which is the “real” person, he’s doing exactly what he wants to do… he’s having it “his” way. And no matter how many laws are on the books, there is absolutely “NOTHING” that anyone can do “if” that person does “not” want to change his or her mind about the way a thing is done. This goes for Christian and non-Christian alike. That’s why we have to admonish with dignity and with respect.
What if Rev. Turner were to pray all of his main thoughts of the prayer in everyone’s hearing, and at the end of it, whispered “inaudibly” in their midst or even prayed silently in his heart without lip movement, the last words: “In Jesus’ Name”, and then after a couple of seconds said “Amen”? That might be something to consider. God hears and knows “all” things, and He knows the heart of a man. I know that we want to be bold and fight back with zeal when our rights are violated as believers in Christ; but sometimes we have to be wise as serpents and peaceful as doves in order to get the job done. “Sometimes” it’s not a bad thing to stop where we are, pray and seek guidance and help from the Holy Spirit, stand still and let God fight this one… or ask “how” the battle should be fought. I know that biting the lip and/or the tongue is hard, but we have work to do; and we have to do it with whatever it takes to advance the kingdom; but we need to be among the living while doing it. Nobody necessarily “wants” to be killed for something he believes in (though one might not mind dieing for a reason because it’s important to him). So if we die, we die; but they are only able to kill the body. They can’t, don’t, and won’t possess our souls. We belong to God. We pray for those who don’t know Jesus Christ, that one day soon, the eyes of their understanding will be opened to the Truth about who He really is, and that they too will be glad and honored to pray “In Jesus’ Name” to the glory of God, Amen. … Maggie