Complaint Filed Over Local Official's Washing of Government Employees' Feet

In St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, the ACLU has sent a letter to Parish President Craig Taffaro complaining about the official's decision on the Thursday before Easter to wash the feet of Parish employees. WSDU News reported yesterday that Taffaro says he did not see the practice as a religious act, but as an act of public service. Taffaro also says that no employee was coerced into participating. The ACLU's letter argues that Taffaro is imposing his religion on government employees. Foot washing is practiced by certain Christian denominations based on words of Jesus in John 13: 14-17. (Background.)