Wednesday, August 05, 2009

In Jesus' name

Va. Senate Panel Kills Bill Allowing 'Jesus' Prayers

A Virginia Senate committee killed legislation that would have restored the rights of state police chaplains to pray publicly "in Jesus' name" at public events.

Although the legislation passed the Virginia House last month in a 66-30 vote, the bill died Monday in the Senate Courts of Justice committee in an 8-7 voice vote.

The measure would have reversed a policy, implemented last summer by State Police Col. Steven Flaherty, that required state troopers to offer only non-sectarian prayers at public events.

The state police had passed the policy after a federal appeals court upheld a Fredericksburg City Council ban on referring to Jesus Christ in public prayers at the beginning of council meetings. Democrat Gov. Tim Kaine supported the policy.

Six chaplains resigned last year in protest over the order, saying they should be allowed to pray according to their conscience.


Pa. Senate Allows Jesus Prayer

"I am painfully aware that there are many here today, who have embraced beliefs systems other than mine," Stoltzfoos, lead pastor at Freedom Valley Worship Center near Gettysburg, prayed. "I am not here to say that everyone ought to believe as I do. But I can only pray to my God. If you believe in some other power, I invite you to address yours as I address mine.

"For those of us who are Christians, we pray in Jesus' name."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh, that Name........

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
There's just something about that name
Master, Savior, Jesus
Like the fragrance after the rain

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
There's just something about that name
Master, Savior, Jesus
Like the fragrance after the rain

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Let all heaven and earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away
But there's just something about that name

4 comments:

Paul Latour said...

I wonder if the Lawman knows about this.

Steve Martin said...

The world hates that name.

Jesus is God and the world cannot stand the exclusive nature of the revelation of God in the man named Jesus.

ExPatMatt said...

By 'non-sectarian' does it mean that they're ok to pray, but they can't say anythign that may be a poitn of contention between denominations?

For example, not refering to specifically Catholic bit of dogma in case non-Catholic Christians don't like it?

I'm a bit confused about this!

Cheers,

Jon said...

The military had a similar problem a few years ago. They now allow their chaplains to pray according to their own faith, despite the individual faiths represented at whatever function.