In this state, those of a Christianist mind set enjoy having their minions deliver devisive prayers at official public events. Thus, these people were more that a wee bit upset when State Police Superintendent W. Steven Flaherty requiring chaplains to deliver non-sectarian prayers at government-sanctioned events. Imagine, chaplains not being able to deliver prayers that offend Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists among others. The horror!! Hence HB2314, which was sponsored by Del. Charles W. "Bill" Carrico Sr., R-Grayson that would have undone Superintendent Flaherty's policy. Why is it that the totally self-centered and falsely pious Christianist set can never absorb the message that this country is not a theocracy? And why is it always Republicans who introduce such bills? The action on this bill shows why it is important to increase Democrat control of the Virginia General Assembly in the coming elections this fall. Also note the same tired claim that Christians are being persecuted when in fact they are the persecutors. Here are some highlights from the Virginian Pilot:*
Keep the names of specific deities out of the public square during official events. That's essentially what a Senate committee's Democratic majority decreed Monday when it defeated a bill that would have restored to State Police chaplains the ability to offer prayers that reference specific higher powers, such as Jesus Christ.
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Carrico's bill was killed on an 8-7 party-line vote in the Senate Courts of Justice committee after nearly an hour of debate. Flaherty's policy, which he adopted in response to a federal court ruling about prayers at government functions, requires State Police troopers who serve as voluntary chaplains to deliver non-sectarian prayers at certain public events. In protest, six of 17 troopers who serve as chaplains resigned the religious portions of their duties in the fall.
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Opponents of the policy such as Carrico, a former State Police trooper, view the police rule as an attack on Christianity. "The Christian faith has been persecuted in this country for too long, and people are tired of it," Carrico said after his bill was killed, vowing to introduce similar legislation next year. During testimony to the committee earlier Monday, he equated a "non-secular" policy to "a no-god religion."
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Officials with the Family Foundation of Virginia were among those who testified in support of the legislation. "The birthplace of religious freedom is now the home of censorship and bigotry," foundation President Victoria Cobb said in a written statement issued later Monday.
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