Virginia County Faces $60,000 Bill Following Legislative Prayer Suit

Written by Don Byrd
When elected officials insist on fighting a losing religious liberty lawsuit, the taxpayer often ends up with the tab. Pittsylvania County, Virginia will be required to pay nearly $60,000 in legal fees if a court approves the motion filed by the ACLU of Virginia.

9th, 11th Circuits Uphold Government Prayer Policies Despite Sectarian Invocations

Written by Don Byrd
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld the constitutionality of Lancaster, California’s City Council prayer policy against charges that it violates the separation of church and state.

Here, the court emphasized that because Lancaster’s policy takes great pains to avoid favoritism in determining who will give the prayer, the fact that the policy does not require nonsectarian invocations is unconcerning.

South Carolina School Official Fights Back Against Prayer Accusation

Written by Don Byrd
Here’s a great way to end a Friday. Just read this. When Pickens County (SC) school superintendent Dr. Kelly Pew supported a sensible, responsible change in the Board’s invocation policy in opening its monthly meetings, she got slammed from the expected corners of the Religious Right. How many times have we seen elected officials make the right decision in a church-state matter, only to back down once political pressure begins to mount? Here, instead of shriveling to the inaccurate charges that she was removing prayer from schools, Dr. Pew is smartly defending her view instead.

VA Senate Committee Approves Constitutional Amendment on Prayer, Religion in Schools

Written by Don Byrd
By a slim 8-6 margin, the Virginia Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections voted yesterday to approve an amendment to the state’s constitution that would, among other things, provide broad public school students a sweeping right of exemption from assignments and activities they object to on religious grounds.