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We
need your help in building a network of churches and
individuals to educate, motivate and mobilize citizens
in a united effort in promoting Judeo-Christian values;
to educate and influence government in these principles
upon which our state and nation were founded.
“A Recent Return America Rally”
North Carolina
Legislature Open
Watch or Listen to the Return America News Conference:
(Requires Windows Media Player - click here to download)
Click Here to view the video if you have a high-speed
connection
Click Here to view the video if you have a dialup
connection
Click here to listen to an audio recording
Click Here to view the letter to the NC Legislature from
the Gibbs Law Firm
Click Here to sign a petition to the NC Legislature
Click Here to Read the July 19 Return America Press
Release
Special Press Release from the Christian Law Association
July 8, 2010
A NC Pastor’s Invitation to Offer the Opening
Legislative Prayer for the NC House of Representatives
Was Rescinded
Because His Religion Requires Him to Pray in
Jesus’ Name
Dr. Ron Baity, pastor of Berean
Baptist Church, Winston Salem, NC, is requesting a
letter of apology and another opportunity to offer the
open legislative prayer before the North Carolina House
of Representatives after his initial invitation for the
week of May 31 to June 3 was rescinded because Pastor
Baity’s religion requires him to pray in Jesus’ Name.
Pastor Baity said: “I was made to
feel like a second class North Carolinian when I was
told that my services would no longer be needed if I
could not offer the opening prayer in the manner
prescribed by the House of Representatives, rather than
in the manner my Biblical faith requires. It appears
that only those religious leaders willing to pray a
government prescribed prayer will be given the honor of
participating in this legislative prayer exercise in the
future.”
Attorney David C Gibbs III, of
Gibbs Law Firm and the Christian Law Association of
Seminole, Florida, who appeared with Dr. Baity at his
Press Conference on July 8, 2010, noted: “The First
Amendment promises all Americans the free exercise of
their religion, which includes the right to pray as
their faith requires, even when they are invited to open
state legislative sessions with prayer. We trust that
the North Carolina House of Representatives will realize
its mistake and will offer Pastor Baity another
opportunity to pray without requiring him to use a
prayer that is mandated by the government.”
Attorney Gibbs added: “There is no
authority in American history, tradition or Supreme
Court precedent that requires a legislature to censor a
private citizen’s prayers in order to participate in a
benefit or privilege that is offered to other citizens
of the state.”
Dr. Baity released a lengthy letter
written by his attorneys at his Press Conference
explaining the underlying legal principles for allowing
Dr. Baity to have the opportunity to pray. This letter
has been sent to the both the Speaker and the Clerk of
the House. A response is being requested within ten
days.
Forsyth County
Commissioners Opening Prayer Issue
In March of 2007, a
lawsuit was filed against the Forsyth County
Commissioners, challenging the practice of opening the
commissioners meetings with "sectarian" prayer.
The commissioners
themselves did not offer the opening prayer.
Instead, members of clergy from all religions were
regularly invited to participate, and the responses to
the invitations were accepted on a first-come,
first-served basis.
The plaintiffs in the
case allege that prayer in the name of Jesus
before the commissioners
meetings violates the Establishment Clause of the
Constitution.
On January 28, 2010, the
District Court in Greensboro agreed, declaring sectarian
prayer before the commissioners meetings
unconstitutional.
We at Return America are
deeply concerned with this issue. We
wholeheartedly support the decision on February 22, 2010
by the Forsyth County Commissioners to appeal the ruling
by the District Court in Greensboro.
Here's a summary of
the events in this case:
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March, 2007: "Joyner vs. Forsyth County
Commissioners" lawsuit filed
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October 14, 2009: Case is presented in district
court
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November 9, 2009: Magistrate declares opening the
commissioners meetings with prayer in Jesus' name
unconstitutional; ACLU declares victory
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November 16 2009: Alliance Defense Fund "looking forward to
continuing this case" - final ruling expected in
December
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January 28, 2010:
District Court Ruling: Prayer in Jesus' name before
Council Meetings is unconstitutional
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February 22, 2010:
The county commissioners voted 4-3 to appeal the
district court ruling
Representatives from Return
America took part in the February 22 commissioners
meeting. We will continue to follow this case
throughout the appeals process.
For more
information and related stories, see our
"Issues Tracker" page.
02-24-2010 Return America Update
03-08-2010 - Alan Sears (Alliance Defense Fund): In North Carolina, A Night To Remember
Click here to view a 02-25-2010 press release from
Alliance Defense Fund
Click here to view photographs of the commissioners
meeting at creechphoto.com
Note: follow the
above link to creechphoto.com, then click on the box
labeled "Forsyth County Commissioners (Prayer Issue)".
You may then control the slideshow with the controls on
the right side of the screen.
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