THE PRAYER POLICE

The ACLU continues its jack-booted reign of intimidation as it seeks to stop public prayers in the name of Jesus:

As Bunkey Morgan cleared his throat and prepared to deliver the invocation at Monday's County Commissioners meeting, he looked a bit uncertain.

Just two days earlier he had received notice from the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina that the prayers he delivers before each county meeting are possibly offensive and could be alienating those who attend.

At issue is not the prayer itself, but rather the use of the name "Jesus Christ" as part of the blessing.

A statement sent by the ACLU requests that the board discontinue its use of "sectarian invocations at Chatham County Commissioners meetings," and cites multiple cases in which municipal governments have changed the wording of their prayers in deference to religious diversity.

But Morgan and the commissioners (sounds like a late '50s singing group) aren't backing down:

Nonetheless, the first words of Morgan's prayer began, "In the Bible, Jesus taught us in prayer," before he delivered the words of The Lord's Prayer to the handful of people in attendance.

Earlier, during a discussion about the ACLU request, the commissioners indicated they were hesitant to change the tradition of invoking Christ's name.

"For the majority of us [the request by the ACLU] just makes us mad," Commissioner Patrick Barnes said, curling his hands into fists. "You can have prayer; you can mention God or Lord but not Jesus Christ. The idea of abandoning it irritates me."

Other commissioners chimed in with similar objections to changing the invocation. All five board members identified themselves as Christians and puzzled as to why a simple prayer could be found objectionable.

"I bet 99 percent of people would be in favor of our prayer," Commissioner Carl Outz said. "We can't keep bendin' over to all these rules put out by individuals that are less than 1 percent of the population."

A hearty 'Amen' to that. As long as the ACLU thinks it can bully people into silence it will do so. The first step in exercising religious freedom (wasn't religious freedom at one time considered a 'civil liberty'?) is actually to exercise it. The one thing the ACLU fears the most is simply to be ignored.