Virginia Delegate Proposes to Protect Religious Liberty
by Jim Brown and Fred Jackson
February 21, 2005
(AgapePress) - A proposed change to the Constitution of Virginia takes aim at the proverbial wall of separation between church and state. The constitutional amendment would secure the rights of individuals to pray in public buildings, including schools.
Delegate Charles Carrico says HJ-537, his proposed "Religious Liberty Amendment," was prompted by recent court rulings suppressing Christian expression, such as the recent decision by a federal appeals court, which ruled that Cadets at the Virginia Military Institute cannot pray audibly during lunch. HJ-537 has already passed the Virginia House by a decisive 69-27 margin, and a hearing on the proposed measure will be held today (February 21) in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee.
"The amendment that I've offered to the [State] Constitution only strengthens that which we have in place," Carrico says, "to spell out for the courts that it's not a violation of our constitution to acknowledge God according to our conscience, and it's not a violation of the constitution to pray and express our religious beliefs, heritages, and traditions."
According to the Virginia delegate, the Religious Liberty Amendment seeks to prevent court-sanctioned anti-Christian bias. He is urging the people of his state, particularly those who "really want to stand up for what they believe and feel that they are being suppressed in the way that they are able to express their religious beliefs," to let their representatives in the State Senate know how they feel about the measure.
Carrico says his proposed constitutional amendment is designed not only to protect individuals' right to pray and freely express their religious faith in public, but also "would protect the Nativity scenes that you have on the lawns, and your right to display the Ten Commandments." For those Virginia citizens who are "tired of all those things being torn down," the lawmaker adds, "they need to contact their senators and voice their concerns and their desire to see this amendment pass."
Victoria Cobb of the Family Foundation of Virginia is applauding the Republican delegate and his proposal. "We commend Delegate Carrico for his courage in bringing forth this amendment," she says, noting that his pro-family stand is all the more praiseworthy in contrast with the many judges, government officials and legislators who are apparently "incapable of interpreting the clear language of the Commonwealth's bill of rights."
Cobb says the debate over the restrictions government officials have chosen to place on religious speech in the public square is one of the most important of our time. "Sadly," she adds, "too many Virginians are intimidated from expressing their faith publicly because of the hostility expressed toward faith by many in government -- particularly in our public schools."
Public Pro-Homosexual Prayer Surprises Lawmakers
Meanwhile, another controversy involving public prayer in Virginia came up last Friday. It occurred when a homosexual pastor who was invited to pray before the Virginia House of Delegates took advantage of the opportunity to denounce lawmakers' efforts toward banning same-sex marriage and discouraging homosexual adoption.
Many members of the Republican-controlled chamber looked up in surprise when openly lesbian pastor Debra Peevey prayed, "Holy One, convict those who are using their power not to lead or to guide but to harm the gay and lesbian citizens, a small minority in this commonwealth." Delegate John Cosgrove remarked, "It's interesting ... we're told not to pray in Jesus' name, but this is okay?"
Media reports of the incident quipped that Peevey's prayer may have bowed heads, but it also raised eyebrows -- and possibly blood pressure as well. Associated Press noted that the lesbian minister's invocation did not sit well with conservatives in the House, and that the usual chorus of "Amen" at the closing of the prayer was noticeably muted.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online. Fred Jackson is news director for American Family Radio News.
