Federal Magistrate Says Sectarian Invocations Violate Establishment Clause

In Joyner v. Forsyth County, North Carolina, (MD NC, Nov. 9, 2009), a federal magistrate judge recommended that the court issue a declaratory judgment finding that sectarian invocations opening Forsyth County Board of Commissioners meetings violate the Establishment Clause. While the county's official policy called for inviting clergy from all congregations with a presence in the local community, in application invocations referred to Jesus in an overwhelming number of cases. Non-Christian deities were never invoked. The court concluded that while the selection process strives to include a wide variety of speakers from diverse religious faiths, "it is the prayers themselves that the public 'sees and hears,' not the selection policy." ACLU of North Carolina issued a press release saying that it is "pleased today for our clients and all religious minorities in Forsyth County who have felt shut out and alienated by their own government because of its public stance in favor of Christianity." Yesterday's Winston-Salem Journal reported on the decision.