Charles C. Haynes: Fighting over prayers in the name of Jesus

  Meetings of the Board of Commissioners in Forsyth County, N.C., have long opened with mostly Christian prayers — and a majority of the commissioners are determined to keep it that way. As far as they’re concerned, what the Christian majority wants, the Christian majority should get.

  Last month, however, a federal judge called a halt to the practice of praying in the name of Jesus. Although the county argued that its recently revised policy was now constitutional because it permits religious leaders of all faiths to pray on a first-come, first-served basis, the judge ruled that most prayers were Christian in violation of the First Amendment’s prohibition against government advancing one religion over others.

  Undeterred, the commissioners have vowed to fight on, voting 4-3 on February 22 to appeal the court’s decision — backed by $300,000 raised by citizens outraged by the ruling.