Raisin’ Kaine. VA administration “bans referring to Jesus in public prayers.”
Gov. Tim Kaine (VA-D) and Col. W. Steven Flaherty
You remember Gov. Tim Kaine, right?
Well, it seems that the former-VP shortlister on the Democrats’ ticket has returned to taking care of the big issues in his home state of Virginia, after being bested by Sen. Joe Biden, the beltway insider. Forget poverty, crime and all those menial issues. Gov. Kaine and Col. W. Steven Flaherty, the head of the state police in VA, have put the kibosh on referring to Jesus by their chaplains.
Via CBN News:
There were several of us who felt that because of our convictions. about what the Bible says, we couldn’t agree to go along with a generic prayer policy,” said 13-year trooper Rex Carter, who works in Southwest Virginia.
Republican lawmakers in the state concurred, arguing that the new restrictions are a violation of the First Amendment and an attack on Christianity.
“For those of us who understand the importance of religion in American life and value the free expression of religion as one of our essential rights, the Kaine administration’s directive is disappointing and disheartening,” House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, said.
“Censoring what these chaplains can say is a violation of their First Amendment right to freedom of expression,” Del. Charles W. Carrico Sr., said.
The former state trooper is currently putting together an online petition to get the police department to rescind the new rule.
The state chaplain program, created in 1979, was designed to minister to department employees and grieving loved ones.
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Others posting on this topic: Stop The ACLU, Cranach: The Blog of Veith, ScoopThis.Org
Tags: Election '08, Tim Kaine, Virginia State Troopers
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October 9, 2008 at 12:32 am
Again, those on the far right can’t understand the fundamental ideals the fore-fathers of our country wrote into our US Constitution. This one is called the separation of Church and State. It’s there to protect Americans from tyranny and to guarantee freedom of worship.
Yes, it is a long time coming…like 250 years. I think it’s interesting how not only are some folks so ignorant that they don’t understand the reason we have always separated church and state, but that a trooper has decided he’ll fight the Veterans Administration on this one.
So, oppressing any children that aren’t Christian and continuing to make them repeat this trooper’s religious doctrine is more important than say fixing the economy, getting your kids affordable healthcare, taking care of our aging parents and making sure our returning veterans get the care they need?
Wow y’all could we please ALL focus.
October 29, 2008 at 8:04 am
Actually, Scott, the phrase “separation of church and stated” is derived from Thomas Jefferson’s letter of response to the Danbury Baptist Association assuring them that there will be no “national” religion in our government, such as the one the folks escaped in England.
The First Amendment actually states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” The emphasis is mine, by the way.
There was no prohibition on the practice of religion in public places, as a prior denotes, Jefferson, Madison and others attended “church services on public property.”
But, don’t let history and facts get in your way, by any means.