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Constitutionality of Rowan County prayer to be reviewed

By Dave Faherty, wsoctv.com
By Dave Faherty, wsoctv.com

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — A federal appeals court will consider whether county commissioners in North Carolina violated the Constitution by delivering Christian prayers at their meetings and inviting audience members to join.

Rowan County commissioners didn't stop praying when Channel 9 cameras showed up for their meetings in 2012 and 2015.

Commissioner Craig Pierce hopes Wednesday's case settles the question for good on whether he can lead a prayer at a commission meeting.

"We don't tell everyone they have to be Christian,” Pierce said. “We don't tell everybody they have to be a Methodist.  We just ask guidance from a higher power and we just happen to be all Christian right now, so we end it in the name of Jesus Christ."

But the ACLU, which is suing Rowan County after three residents came forward with concerns, said the case is not about freedom of speech.

The ACLU's attorney spoke to Channel 9 by phone, saying that the commissioners are part of the government.

"The government is not allowed to press citizens to participate in prayers,” attorney Chris Brook said.  “And it is not allowed to suggest to those who attend meetings what their religious beliefs should be."

A three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear Rowan County's effort to overturn a federal judge's ruling that commissioners ran afoul of constitutional requirements separating church and state.

In downtown Salisbury, people have different opinions about the pending case.

"To me, it's a little bit like forcing your opinion on someone,” Edith Julian said. “And I think in this day and time, we have to be so careful."

"This is the Southern (Bible) Belt,” another resident, Joseph Heilig, said. “This is what we do. We pray and we go to church."

Commissioners said four groups have come forward with offers to help pay legal bills.

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