State Police Chaplains Prohibited from Praying to Jesus?
I just received an interesting E-Mail forward from a friend that indicates that the Colonel of the Virginia State Police has as of last week prohibited all chaplains of the department from praying in the name of Jesus or mentioning Christ.
Anybody got any interesting news on this? It is quite disturbing if true.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:09 am
It’s true. We are interviewing VA delegate Bill Carrico on my show about it this morning on the radio. From what I understand, the VA State Police didn’t want to ‘Offend’ anyone with Jesus name, so they chose instead to offend the 1st ammendment rights of the chaplains as well as their religious and moral conscience. Absolute insanity.
September 28th, 2008 at 3:28 am
The chaplains were not forbade to utter the name JESUS: Col. Flaherty asked “Department chaplains to offer non-denominational prayers at Department-sanctioned, public events…The Superintendent’s request does not affect chaplains offering their services at private ceremonies or when counseling individual employees and their families in their time of need.” They quit their ministry to “individual employees and their families in their time of need.” WHAT KIND OF CHRISTIAN TESTIMONY IS THAT?
October 6th, 2008 at 5:27 am
The term “Non-denominational” is another word for generic. Why would a Christian have to offer a prayer without usung the name of Christ in any setting? I have yet to see a court ruling that engages Muslim, Jewish or any other religions prayers. It all comes down to a ruling by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals on a prayer offered at the Fredricksburg City Council that has nothing to do with the Virginia State Police. In fact, no one had complained about any prayer that has been offered so far by any police chaplain. No one, not even Col. Flaherty, has the right to infringe on a chaplain or any other citizens 1st Ammendment rights. The last time I checked, we do not yet live in communist China. You do not have to leave your deeply held religious beliefs at the door of your workplace, even if employed by the state. For the ones who walked out of the group in protest, it is a stand for their beliefs and a stand for Christians to be able to pray as they choose, regardless of what some liberal judge legislating from a bench or some Colonel passing policy says. That is a real testimony of Christian beliefs to not bow down to political pressure and give in to what others think you should pray. I applaude them for their stand
October 8th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I applaud them as well Tony. I agree that what they are doing is a great testimony for Christ. Quitting their job does not mean that they quit their ministry. I’m sure they are still ministering and have now ministered to me and many others by this stand they have taken. I pray for them and pray for VA that some sense will come to those in power. God Bless.