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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”
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
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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