Most school children understand the separation of church and state, but sometimes the lines get blurred when you’re in the real world. Religious people who have good intentions make suggestions that belie the principles on which the United States was built. People have to stand up and hold the government accountable to keep them out of religious matters. Here are just a couple of incidents that indicate the fight is not over, but there is progress.
A Christians-Only Policy
Coolidge City Council in Arizona attempted a proposal which limited the invocation before their meetings to be given by only those who professed to be Christians. The pastor who asked the council to allow prayer before meetings was appalled when Councilman Robert Hudelson amended the resolution to limit it to Christian groups. Fortunately, after a public outcry and threats of lawsuits from multiple organizations, the council called an emergency meeting to further amend the resolution.
The policy now stands that any representative of all religious groups within the city limits be allowed to offer a prayer. This is not new to the city, as it allowed prayer before meetings until 2007, when it stopped for a lack of interest. The city will rework the resolution to ensure that it meets the standards for separation of church and state and bring it back for a final vote. In a Supreme Court ruling from 2014, prayer is allowed before public meetings, but the community cannot discriminate against minority faiths.
A Papal Mass Broadcast
Pope Francis presents a unique situation when he comes to the United States. He is the Sovereign of the Holy See which is the seat of Roman Catholic government, and because of this, he enjoys diplomatic immunity in the United States. The Pope is one of the most respected leaders in the world, but he is also a religious figure. You can easily see how difficult it might be to maintain separation of church and state when entertaining such an honored guest.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State went to the city officials of Cape May, New Jersey, with concerns that the city was sponsoring a papal Mass at its convention hall. The city was sponsoring a live stream of the mass and passing out tickets at City Hall. Americans United threatened a lawsuit because Cape May seemed to communicate an endorsement of a religious event. The city found alternate sponsors for the event, so it will continue, but Cape May will no longer provide support. Americans United is watching the situation to be on the lookout for violations .
Michigan Prayer Practices
The Board of Commissioners in Jackson County, Michigan have been composing and delivering prayers before their public meeting. These prayers are exclusively Christian, and the citizens who attend these meetings are being instructed to participate. Commissioners have made disparaging comments about those who object. A local resident has sued the board after they refused to adopt a more inclusive policy.
American United has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals asking them to stop imposing Christianity on those who attend the meetings. The local resident who initiated the lawsuit is representing himself. Although this is not a full victory as the outcome is not yet finalized, the county is on notice that they cannot exploit the citizens of the county.
What Is the Goal?
The goal is not to deny Christians the right to pray but to level the playing field for those who are not Christian. Those who make the laws and work for the government are not allowed to bring their religious views to a public forum. The government should not be sponsoring any religion. Stay on guard and know that there are people who work diligently to maintain separation of church and state.