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Article published Jul 30, 2004
Great Falls fights for Christian prayer
TONY TAYLOR
Staff Writer
Got Jesus?The Great Falls Town
Council can't say.And barring divine intervention, the town, which sits halfway
between Charlotte, N.C., and Columbia, will be prohibited from opening its
meetings with prayers mentioning Jesus Christ.Council members voted unanimously
Thursday to fight a recent federal court's ruling preventing the town from
invoking Jesus Christ's name during prayers.But the town will face an uphill
battle. Great Falls has not used Jesus in any of its prayers since last August
when U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan of Rock Hill ruled the prayers violated
the First Amendment's establishment of a religious clause.The town appealed to
the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.The court issued a ruling last week saying
such prayers amount to an unconstitutional government advancement of one
religion.The council decided Thursday to file a petition for a rehearing before
the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals with the help of attorney William Hurd of
the law firm Troutman & Sanders, who is working pro bono.Mayor H.C. Starnes
said he feels good about the seven-member council's decision."I think we are
doing what the majority of the people in our town would like for us to do,"
Starnes said.The court's decision last week could force governments across the
state to reexamine how their meetings are conducted.Legal experts say the
decision means that elected officials who challenge the ruling with
religion-specific prayers could face expensive lawsuits they would likely lose
as a result of the precedent."Unless the decision is further reviewed or
altered, this is the binding constitution rule in this region," said Andrew
Siegel, an assistant professor of law at the University of South Carolina School
of Law.Siegel said the decision could be reversed if the 4th Circuit Court of
Appeals decides to change its position or if the U.S. Supreme Court
intervenes."Both are possibilities, but neither is likely," Siegel said.Some
local government leaders say they will continue using Christian prayers at their
meetings."My initial indication is that we would continue to do invocations as
we always have," said Greer Mayor Rick Danner. "Unless our hand is forced on
this, I don't expect us to be making a change."Indeed, Greer City Councilwoman
Belle Mercado opened Tuesday's council meeting with a Christian prayer.Mercado
said she knew what she was doing."I'm aware of it," Mercado said of the ruling.
"I was aware of it last night and I was aware of it before I did it."Chesnee
Mayor Priscilla Cantrell said the council would discuss the ruling at its
meeting Monday night.But she predicted there would be few changes."It's always
been customary to open our meetings with a prayer," Cantrell said. "Honestly, as
far as I'm concerned, it will continue."Wellford Mayor Sallie Peake said she
would not abide by the court's ruling."Those atheists on the Supreme Court,
don't they know the air they breathe comes from my Lord," Peake said. "The devil
has been after our Savior since He was a child. Right now, the world is letting
the devil have his way."Other governments are taking a more cautious
approach.Spartanburg County Council Chairman Jeff Horton has asked the county's
legal counsel to review the ruling.At most meetings, council members invite a
local religious leader to lead those in attendance in prayer before the
meeting.Horton added the council would not limit the opportunity to specific
groups.Spartanburg Mayor Bill Barnet said the city is studying the ruling in
order to gain a more thorough understanding of its implications.Barnet said the
city tries to invite a wide array of religious leaders to administer the
invocation during its meetings.The Rabbi Yossi Liebowitz of the Congregation
B'nai Israel said the invocation at Monday's meeting.The case came about in 2001
when Darla Kayne Wynne, who practices the Earth-centered Wicca religion, sued
the Great Falls Town Council for invoking Jesus Christ during meetings.Wynne
said council members used the prayers to draw attention to her religious beliefs
and ostracize her from the community."The prayers started getting more
aggressive," Wynne said. "They were praying for you, even though they would not
mention your name, the prayers were directed at you."Wynne said when she refused
to bow her head during the invocation, council members would draw attention to
her by saying the prayer would be delayed until everyone was ready to
participate.Wynne said the experience left her traumatized."It was getting so
severe that people were threatening my life," Wynne said. "I've been threatened
to be burned out."Wynne said her car and home have been vandalized and several
of her animals have been injured or killed."I tell them that if it's my faith
that bothers you, you're not giving me an incentive to switch to yours," she
said.Great Falls Mayor H.C. Starnes said the council plans to meet tonight to
discuss a possible appeal."We are not using the name of Jesus in our prayers now
because of a judge's decision," Starnes said. "But we want to."Staff Writer
Teresa Killian contributed to this story.Tony Taylor can be reached at 562-7219
or tony.taylor@shj.com.