Barrett Introduces Bill Allowing Prayer At Public Meetings

SENECA, S.C. -- U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett introduced a bill on Thursday that would allow prayer at public meetings.

Barrett said the Public Prayer Protection Act is in response to threats of lawsuits aimed at preventing elected officials from praying openly at public meetings.

"A lot of people in this country preach tolerance, and I'm not saying that you have to use the name of Jesus Christ. You could do an all-inclusive prayer that would be kind of non-denominational," said Barrett.

Barrett's proposed bill was met with a warm reception at a public meeting Thursday night at Oconee County's Seneca High School -- a meeting that opened with a prayer.

Oconee County Councilmember Steve Moore said the meeting began the same way the County Council opens its meetings -- with an invocation.

"Because we need all the divine guidance we can get," said Moore.

The American Civil Liberties Union said prayer during public meetings is a violation of the constitution.

"No legislative body can advance its religious beliefs over other religious beliefs," said Roger Rollin, an ACLU spokesman. "A government meeting is a government meeting intended to do the government business. It is not a church service."

The ACLU is threatening to sue over the practice of prayer during public meetings.

"We're going to have to have a Supreme Court ruling that invocation should not be in a political agenda," said Michael Dean Hardt, an ACLU spokesman.

But supporters of prayer at public meetings said they're prepared to do battle.

"The government is not to suppress religion and people have that freedom. They've always had that freedom in this country and we intend to keep that freedom," said Gladys Dover.

"It wakes one side or the other up to what do you really stand for," said Mark Bagwell, a member of the Golden Corner Church.