July 09, 2010
North Carolina Democrats Boot Pastor For Using 'Jesus' in Prayer
So let me get this straight:
Ron Baity of Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem was asked to be honorary chaplain of the state house of representatives in Raleigh, but his tenure was cut short because his prayer invoked Jesus?
Baity's troubles began during the week of May 31. He said a House clerk asked to see his prayer. The invocation including prayers for our military, state lawmakers and a petition to God asking him to bless North Carolina.""When I handed it to the lady, I watched her eyes and they immediately went right to the bottom of the page and the word Jesus," he told FOX News Radio. "She said 'We would prefer that you not use the name Jesus. We have some people here that can be offended.'"
When Baity protested, she brought the matter to the attention of House Speaker Joe Hackney.
"I told her I was highly offended when she asked me not to pray in the name of Jesus because that does constitute my faith," Baity said. "My faith requires that I pray in His name. The Bible is very clear."
When the clerk returned, Baity said he was told that he would be allowed to deliver the day’s prayer – but after that – his services would no longer be needed.
I would be very, very interested to know if a Muslim Imam has ever been asked to deliver a prayer in front of the NC state House, and if he was, whether or not Democrats dared throw him out for invoking the name of Mohammed in his prayers.
I suspect that like easily offended Democrats everywhere, Hackney and his fellow Tarheel liberals are being very selective in how they enforce rules regarding prayer. It would also be very interesting to know if Democrat demands for the pastor to alter his prayer are grounds for a First Amendment inquiry.
Luv your tagline "Because liberalism is a persistent vegatative state." Also, luv your blog title "Confederate Yankee" because it brings me back to so many moons ago to when I was a kid from New York trying to get by as a Citadel cadet.
May you live long and prosper. :)
http://libertyatstake.blogspot.com/
[For a light hearted take on our present peril]
Lets hope and "PRAY" that democrats keep making complete asses out of themselves. Every time they do they insult that 70% of americans that just don't like what is going on in our country.
Posted by: mixitup at July 9, 2010 08:34 PMCurious how odd old and irrelevant artifacts can provide immense amusement in times like this. Like this:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Free exercise thereof. Wonder what the hell that means?
Anyway, I'm glad the lawmakers stopped this nazi from imposing his views upon the helpless representatives of state hierarchy. One must keep in mind our Constitutional Freedom from Religion, as expressed in the First Amendment: "Congress shall prohibit the expression of any religion, speech act, or artifact of faith and belief, unless the said faith is an officially designated and privileged minoritarian entity as determined by the progressive institution."
Posted by: Multitude at July 9, 2010 11:46 PMSounds about right for the current regime:
Ask a Christian Pastor -- a Baptist, no less -- to give a prayer, then castigate him for being true to his roots.
Will wonders never cease? No, they won't.
Goatroper
Posted by: OldFastDave at July 9, 2010 11:49 PMCrazy! It's almost like there's some sort of law against government supporting specific religions!
Posted by: salvage at July 10, 2010 09:08 AM"It's almost like there's some sort of law against government supporting specific religions!"
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Yeah, only there isn't. There is the 1st Amendment which states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; ..." Nothing in there about government supporting (or not supporting) specific religions. Government is free to support any religion it wants, just so long as it does not "establish" a specific religion to be the national religion.
A pastor talking about Jesus has nothing to do with Congress "[making] law respecting an establishment of religion", no matter what liberals try to say to the contrary.
Posted by: Michael in MI at July 10, 2010 12:45 PMI have no problem with this happening. As a resident of the Raleigh area who is conservative and whose family are members of Temple Beth Shalom in Cary, I have no issue with him being asked not to pray in Jesus name. It happens all the time in Boy Scouts for instance, as the boys in our troop are of many different faiths and by simply praying to God, everyone is included and no one is offended. We have never had an issue with a member of the clergy being offended or refusing. They are quite happy to minister to the spiritual needs of the entire troop. Reverend Baity should have done the same.
Posted by: jhp2 at July 10, 2010 08:50 PMWow Michael in MI, that was an amazing example of looking at black and declaring it white. I'm not sure where you picked up this talent for being exactly wrong but it's quite amazing.
I'm afraid the law is clear, the government cannot pick one sky god over another and praying to Jesus on government time in a government building would be doing just that, even if they're not making a law.
Keep your silly god in your silly hearts and minds and out of government where reality needs to be dealt with.
Posted by: salvage at July 11, 2010 12:26 PMAny Christian who does not pray in Jesus name should check their standing with the Lord. Pastor Baity did the right thing, and I am grateful their are still men willing to put Jesus before self or mob mentality, even if it means losing something here on earth.
"God" does not mean the same thing to everyone.
Posted by: Amazed at July 11, 2010 12:28 PM"...grateful there are still men willing to put Jesus before self or mob mentality...", should have checked my spelling when I was given the chance to. . .
Posted by: Amazed at July 11, 2010 12:38 PM"I'm afraid the law is clear,..."
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Yes, the law is so clear that our money has "In God We Trust" on it, our oaths have "so help me God" in them and all elected officials take their oaths with their hands placed on the Bible.
But, of course "the law is clear" when it comes to a pastor invoking Jesus name. Riiiiight.
Posted by: Michael in MI at July 11, 2010 05:38 PM
