Louisiana Sheriff Stands Up for His Right to Pray
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
BATON ROUGE (Worthy News)– Except for the voters who elected him, the sheriff of Bossier Parish said it’s not anyone else’s business when or where he prays, according to USA Today.
“Not only am I elected to serve the people of Bossier Parish, but I live here and my family lives here,” said Julian Whittington. “I think Bossier Parish is a better place with Christianity and Christian values involved in it. I am an elected official. I’m also a citizen here. I think this is what’s best for us. I don’t work for anybody in Washington. What they do, what they say, I couldn’t really care less.”
And as for the Parish’s annual “In God We Trust Rally” — a rally to honor Bossier Posse members who served in World War II along with a special recognition of Bossier’s Young Marines — Whittington said it doesn’t use public funds, although it will take place on property owned by the parish: the Bossier Sheriff’s office substation in Bossier City, La.
Objections to the rally by Louisiana’s American Civil Liberties Union were off-set by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case of Town of Greece v Galloway. In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled that the town did not violate the Establishment Clause as it simply followed a long-standing American tradition of prayer before legislative sessions; the prayer sessions didn’t exclude members of other religions from participating and there was no evidence the town was attempting to force any religious viewpoint on anyone in attendance.
Despite the victory, Whittington was dismayed at the 5-4 decision.
“That shows just how close, one vote, how that could very well be out the window sooner than we think. It’s a good barometer for where we are. It goes back to one reason people are so involved and feel so strongly about it. People are realizing that as well. For the most part, people have sat back and left it up to someone else and not worried about it. It’s time to be worried.”
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