From OneNewsNow

ACLU targets minister over city council prayer

Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow - 1/18/2009 4:00:00 AM

The ACLU recently pounced on Roanoke, Virginia, Vice Mayor Sherman Lea over a prayer.

Lea, who is also an associate pastor at a church there, made an indirect reference to Jesus in his prayer at a city council meeting. A person in attendance objected, claiming it is illegal and offensive. The ACLU of Virginia has threatened a lawsuit.

The city's attorney, who has advised dropping mention of a deity in prayer, has mistakenly interpreted the law, according to Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel and dean of Liberty University's Law School.

"Obviously saying the name of God, saying the name of Jesus, does not violate the Constitution," he points out. "Despite the ACLU's rants [and] even the misguided legal opinion of the governmental attorney in this case, the name Jesus is still constitutional."

Staver says America's foundation is based on Judeo-Christian ideas, and Founding Fathers practiced it. "From the very history of our country, in fact the Constitution was indeed birthed on the platform of prayer by government officials -- and not just some 60-second prayer before a meeting, but a three-day prayer in a church," he adds.

Lea has requested the removal of his name from the rotation of ministers who pray at city council meetings. Liberty Counsel's website provides information for the public and government officials with "dos and don'ts" concerning prayer.