Written by Don Byrd
The Hays County Commission in Texas has announced a new invocation strategy in hopes of avoiding a lawsuit. Americans United for the Separation of Church and State contacted the Commission to warn of religious liberty violations. The Commission responded with a policy that authorizes a chaplain to “randomly” select a religious leader to deliver an opening prayer at the beginning of each meeting.
A press release from the conservative Liberty Institute frames the issue….questionably.
“The Commissioners Court rejected D.C. efforts to censor public prayer and stood up to anti-freedom bullies, who learned you don’t mess with Hays County, Texas,” said Jonathan Saenz, who is President of Texas Values and a resident of Hays County. Mr. Saenz presented testimony to Hays County on the law governing this issue and spoke in support of the county’s right to have an invocation before its meetings. “We support this outcome and hope more elected officials will protect religious freedom and push back against these frivolous attacks,” he said.
Jeff Mateer, Liberty Institute general counsel, said, “Even Texas is not immune to attacks on religious liberty, but thankfully we have strong court precedent that protects invocations from such bullying tactics when elected officials push back, like Hays County did today.”
Whether a policy of random selection that still allows sectarian prayer to open government meetings is constitutional is a question that is somewhat up in the air (at best). Raising concerns about such a practice doesn’t make one an “anti-freedom bully.” Respecting the religious views of all citizens at a government meeting is a sign of religious freedom, not its threat.
