A liberal activist group is suing a county judge in Texas for starting his court sessions with a prayer.
The activist group, Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), filed its lawsuit this week alleging that Montgomery County Justice of the Peace Wayne Mack is violating the U.S. Constitution by bringing religion into his courtroom, Fox News reported.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three Texas citizens who claim to have been harmed by the judge’s actions.
The suit further alleges that Judge Mack went out of his way to violate the Constitution by promising to institute “religious values within the office” when he ran for the position during the recent election. And once he took up his duties as the Justice of the Peace for Montgomery County Precinct 1, he began a “chaplaincy program” in which guest ministers come into the courtroom to open each session with a Christian prayer.
“Shortly after assuming the office of Justice of the Peace on May 1, 2014, Judge Mack implemented the practice of opening each court session with a prayer delivered by a guest chaplain,” the lawsuit claims.
The FFRF lawsuit also alleges that the judge used the prayer time not to pray himself but to observe those in the courtroom as they reacted to the prayer. “During the prayer, Judge Mack did not bow his head, but observed those in the courtroom,” the lawsuit insists.
Because of this, the anti-Christian group claimed that the judge put their client in fear that her negative reaction to the prayer would be held against her as the judge heard her case.
But a pro-religion group, the First Liberty Institute, says the lawsuit is just a nuisance suit.
“Judge Mack’s program is an excellent idea and a great way to serve the community,” First Liberty President Kelly Shackelford said in a statement. “It has already been upheld by both The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct and the Texas Attorney General.”
Indeed, a similar case was recently decided in the favor of religious expression in Texas.
Nebraska Dems welcome refugees with baskets full of goodies … including voter registration forms
On March 20 a federal appeals court ruled that a Texas school board is allowed to open its meetings with a prayer and that the prayer does not violate the U.S. Constitution.
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
- Bold school principal snubs complaints about kids flying Old Glory – and look what happens! - May 5, 2017
- Mike Huckabee makes ‘racist’ Cinco de Mayo declaration that furious libs are hoping he’ll keep - May 5, 2017
- Infuriating video shows mother & father threatened with JAIL when Delta boots toddler from prepaid seat - May 4, 2017
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
