North Carolina County Council Debates Sectarian Invocations

Oconee County, North Carolina Council is debating how far to go in keeping sectarian prayers as part of the County Council proceedings. Today's Wilmington (NC) Star News reports that for two years the ACLU has been complaining about Council's practices. Previously, a councilman who was also a minister would pray before meetings in the name of Jesus. Now Rev. Bill Rinehart-- who was also Council's official chaplain-- is no longer on Council. Instead of replacing him, Council has now asked the Oconee County Ministerial Association to provide a list of people to offer prayers. Yesterday, Rev. Mike Babb led two prayers-- one 30 minutes before the Council meeting at a flag pole outside the county building, and the other in council chambers, praying in Jesus' name 8 minutes before the meeting began. The ACLU has a problem only with the second of these. County Attorney Brad Norton said:"What we can do legally is very clear. We can very easily follow the law, but if we decide to gamble and stretch how far the law will go and the court says we're wrong, it will cost us in the neighborhood of $150,000 (to) $250,000 in attorneys' fees" Council will hold a public meeting to discuss its prayer policy next week.