No more pre-game prayer at Blount County Schools football games
Student or volunteer-led prayer will no longer be allowed over the loud-speakers before high school football games in the Blount County School District starting this Friday. The decision comes following a complaint filed by the Freedom from Religion Foundation against a Blount County school over saying a pre-game prayer over the intercom before high school football games claiming the prayers are inappropriate and and unconstitutional. “The complaint alleges that because we are doing that over the PA system, that it is inappropriate,” Blount County Schools Superintendent Rodney Green Green told ABC33/40. “That is something that we have had to go back and examine, and we have decided to go back and make a change in that practice.” According to CBS 42, Green said the District discussed the complaint with attorneys and they will now pause for a moment of silence before each home game rather than saying a prayer. In God We Trust Blount County Schools also made headlines recently when they took action to become the first Alabama school to bring God back to the school district by displaying “In God We Trust” at the various schools within the county. In August, Green told AL.com a policy could be drafted within the next month. “In God We Trust” has been the official motto of the United States since 1956 and back in March, the State Legislature passed HB228: The National Motto “In God We Trust” Act, which allows the national motto to be placed on government agencies and offices, in and on public buildings, including public school classrooms across the state.
National Day of Prayer events scheduled across Alabama
The 67th Annual National Day of Prayer will be observed Thursday. Across the country and the Yellowhammer State, people will unite in prayer for their community and country. Over 50 prayer gatherings will take place across Alabama. In addition to the events taking place across the state, more than 35,000 prayer gatherings will be conducted by about 40,000 volunteers across the country. The National Day of Prayer originated in 1952 after Congress passed a joint resolution and President Harry Truman signed a bill to establish an official celebration. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan designated the first Thursday of May as the annual observance for the National Day of Prayer, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. According to its website, the day “exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families.” The theme for this year’s observance is ‘Pray for America – UNITY’ — based upon Ephesians 4:3 which reads, “Making every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.” “We hope that you will join us in prayer and reflection this week for our nation and state. We will be praying for a renewed birth of spiritual awaking in our nation collectively and individually,” said the Eagle Forum of Alabama, which will join in celebrations across the state.
Alabama AG Steve Marshall urges SCOTUS to protect prayer at public meetings
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall wants to protect prayer at public meetings. Marshall joined a coalition of 22 states Wednesday urging the U.S. Supreme Court to protect the practice of lawmaker-led prayer at public meetings. “Lawmaker-led prayer is woven into the fabric of American society dating back to the founding of our Republic,” observed Marshall. “Public prayer is both constitutional and a common practice throughout our country. Today more than 35 states and countless local governments permit lawmakers to offer prayer. I share Justice Scalia’s perspective that “to deprive our society of (this) important unifying mechanism…is as senseless in policy as it is unsupported by law.” The effort stems from a case out of Rowan County, N.C. where a lower court ruled the county board of commissioners were not allowed to give brief invocations. The coalition of states filed the friend-of-the-court brief brief calling on the high court to hear arguments in the case of Lund vs. Rowan County and confirm the constitutionality of public prayer led by lawmakers. Such a decision would alleviate confusion among the lower federal courts and strike down a recent ruling in the Fourth Circuit that the Rowan County Board of Commissioners’ practice of opening its public meetings with a commissioner-led prayer violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The brief notes that state legislatures, including in Alabama, have opened public sessions with lawmaker-led prayer for much of this country’s history. “Both of Alabama’s legislative chambers have allowed members to offer prayers for more than one hundred years. A member of the House of Representatives, for instance, gave the invocation in the state Senate in 1873. And during the 1875 legislative session, Mr. Nelson and Mr. Wilson, members of the House of Representatives, opened House sessions with prayers.” Alabama filed its brief in support of free expression of faith along with West Virginia, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin, along with the Governor of Kentucky. A copy of the brief is available here.
Complaint leads Ala. school district to ban student-led prayer at football games
An Alabama school district has banned student-led prayer on the public address system before football games following a recent complaint. The Opelika-Auburn News reports that attorneys for Lee County Schools replied Sept. 11 to an Aug. 31 letter of complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation which said a parent complained about student-led prayer at Smiths Station High School’s season-opening game. The school district says it will bring all schools in accordance with current federal law that prohibits school-sponsored prayer in public schools. Schools superintendent James McCoy said in a statement that he tried to find a way for students to continue leading prayer, but ultimately found no recourse. A group of Smiths Station students has invited community members to join in a silent one-minute prayer before each home game. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Kay Ivey asks Alabamians to pray for and help Hurricane Harvey victims
As Hurricane Harvey continues to devastate Texas, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey asked her fellow Alabamians to pray for and help the victims of the storm. “I am urging all Alabamians to join me in praying for those effected by this tragedy and in considering ways to help with recovery efforts,” Ivey said in a statement. “In addition to supporting worthy causes like the Red Cross and faith-based groups, I encourage everyone to help meet the urgent needs caused by this storm.” She continued, “Today, we are reminded that despite our differences, despite our political ideologies, despite what may separate us, each of us are Americans, united by our common heritage and our commitment to liberty as given to every man, woman, and child by Almighty God Himself. Though we never wish for a catastrophic event such as this, it certainly gives us perspective and reminds us of what is important in life.” Ivey explained she reached out to Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott and pledged “the full support of all Alabamians.” “In the days ahead, we will see the best our nation has to offer, as we join together to support Texas,” she added. “To our friends in Texas, know we are behind you and are here to help. May God bless the great State of Texas and those effected by Hurricane Harvey.” Ivey also tweeted her support. To our friends in Texas, know we are behind you and are here to help @GovAbbott #Harvey https://t.co/sSBcs7JY3U — Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) August 29, 2017 Hurricane Harvey was a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall with heavy rains and winds of 130 miles per hour late Aug. 25 into the Rockport, Texas area, northeast of Corpus Christi. It is said to be the strongest one to hit the United States in more than a decade and the National Weather Service said in an Aug. 27 tweet the rainfall expected after the hurricane and storm are over “are beyond anything experienced before.” “Today, we are reminded that despite our differences, despite our political ideologies, despite what may separate us, each of us are Americans, united by our common heritage and our commitment to liberty as given to every man, woman, and child by Almighty God Himself,” Ivey said. “Though we never wish for a catastrophic event such as this, it certainly gives us perspective and reminds us of what is important in life.” To learn how you can help, please visit https://governor.alabama.gov/helpfortexas.
Americans offer hope, prayer in assessing Donald Trump’s 100 days
They are young and old: a high school student who can’t yet vote, a Vietnam vet who did so proudly. They hail from all corners of the United States and very different walks of life: a “downhome boy” from Kentucky, a third-generation Mexican-American from Texas, a stay-at-home mom in Pennsylvania, an Iranian immigrant in Los Angeles. Some oppose Donald Trump and all that he stands for, while others voted enthusiastically for him. Now, they are critiquing him. One hundred days into Trump’s presidency, The Associated Press returned to some of the everyday people interviewed these past months to ask them to write a letter to the president, evaluating the job he’s done so far and looking ahead to the months to come. One supporter tells the president he “might have fallen a little short” — on Obamacare, in particular — but he signs off “with hope.” A refugee implores Trump to “make America more friendly,” but finds optimism in the president’s reaction to this month’s chemical attack in Syria: “I hope this is a turning point.” A Trump objector calls his biggest accomplishment “waking up the public to fight.” She offers this advice: “Make decisions with your heart. It will give you wisdom.” ___ FROM RURAL AMERICA, A SUPPORTER SEES HOPE IN TRUMP’S PRESIDENCY Alan Halsey, 31, is a self-described “downhome boy” from Campton, Kentucky, who along with his wife owns and operates The Swift Creek Courier, a weekly newspaper, and Halsey’s Country Store, “a small business that is a chunk of 1950 set down in 2017.” He says he works seven days a week to try to provide for his family, but is struggling and tired of government regulation and red tape. He wrote: ” … I supported you quite strongly in the 2016 election, even to the point of hanging one of your signs on the front door of my business. I particularly related to your foreign policy of ‘America First,’ and your promise to bring business back to the United States. So far, I believe you’re heading in the right direction on that front, and I find a glimmer of hope in the future of the American economy. “Overall, I think you might have fallen a little short on your first 100 days, but I don’t put a lot of weight into a time frame that small. Provided you serve two terms, 100 days is about 4 percent of that. I still feel that something needs to be done with the Affordable Care Act, although I’m not certain exactly what. … I know many ACA recipients that visit a doctor more than once a week, while those that purchase their own insurance wait until a visit to a doctor is imperative to their survival. There must be a middle to that scenario. …” He signed his letter: “With Hope.” ___ CANCER SURVIVOR WORRIES OVER TRUMP’S PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS, BUT PRAYS FOR HIM Rebecca Esparza, 45, is a freelance writer in Corpus Christi, Texas, who didn’t vote for Trump. A cancer survivor, Esparza fears proposed budget cuts targeting the nation’s premier medical research institution, the National Institutes of Health, will hurt Americans who battle illness. She wrote: “. I cannot say I’m proud of your work so far. However, I have respect for the Office of the President, even if I disagree with your political aspirations. … I could write a dissertation on the many ways I disagree with your political ideals. I’m a third-generation Mexican-American, born and raised in South Texas. Your disdain for Mexico, its descendants and immigrants in general troubles me. Your plan to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, leaving millions of Americans with no other health insurance options, leaves me anguished. “But what distresses me most is your plan to cut nearly $6 billion in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). On Thanksgiving Day in 2001, at age 30, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. … Cancer research saved my life. … The cuts you are proposing are disconcerting not only for cancer survivors, but for millions of Americans suffering from many types of chronic and rare diseases. … “I’ll be praying for you, President Trump. … I pray you will carefully consider how your decisions have life or death consequences for hard-working Americans.” Read more about Esparza. ___ ONE-TIME OBAMA VOTER FEELS PRIDE IN TRUMP’S WORK Laverne Jones Gore, 60, owns an executive leadership development company in Cleveland and voted for Trump after previously supporting Barack Obama. Gore calls herself a “middle-class American who happens to be black” and says she felt uncomfortable voicing her opinion during the Obama years, but Trump has “made me proud to be an American again.” Part of a military family — her deceased husband was a Marine and a son graduated from West Point — Gore’s one hesitation these past 100 days is over Trump’s airstrike in Syria. She wrote: ” … Mr. President you have absolutely met my expectations. I actually believe you have shown a strength that I had not given to you, and I am surprised by your willingness to meet head on the challenges and resistance within your governing bodies. I don’t believe you have been afforded an opportunity to really show us what you have to offer in the form of leadership of our nation. “I have no issue with you as it relates to ‘Russians.’ I personally believe most of it was contrived. I have no issue with you as it relates to immigration. I think the issues were in need of control. … I have some reservations about your use of Twitter, but I understand the difficulty you have getting your intended message out. “Yes, you surprised me with the Syria strike and I am not certain how I feel about another war or thought of war. I am still contemplating your action and observing the responses to come from the world theatre as they absorb your full intent.” ___ ‘YOUR SIGNATURE CRUSHED MY FAMILY’ Marjan Vayghan, 32, an artist and writer
Alabama pastor Chris Bell leads opening prayer before U.S. Congress
At the invitation of Congressman Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, Tuesday morning Pastor Chris Bell from 3Circle Church in Fairhope delivered the opening prayer before the U.S. House of Representatives. Members of Congress have the opportunity to invite local faith leaders to deliver the opening prayer each day the House is in session. During his visit to D.C., Pastor Bell, along with his wife Nan, shared breakfast with Byrne, took a tour of the U.S. Capitol, and met House Speaker Paul Ryan. Following the prayer, Byrne spoke about Pastor Bell and the important work his ministry does in Southwest Alabama. Read Byrne’s full remarks below: Mr. Speaker, it is written in Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” As this body debates important issues, it is critical we begin with prayer, and I am honored my constituent, Pastor Chris Bell, was able to lead today’s prayer. Mr. Speaker, Pastor Bell studied theology and communications at the University of Mobile and Luther Rice Seminary, and he has over 20 years of ministry experience. Pastor Bell is currently the lead pastor at 3Circle Church in Southwest Alabama. 3Circle Church has five campuses with weekly attendance reaching over 2,000 people. In addition to their regular services, Pastor Bell and 3Circle Church have a focus on mission and serving others locally, regionally, and all around the world. These missions make a real difference. So, on behalf of Alabama’s First Congressional District, it is an honor to welcome Chris and his wife, Nan, to the People’s House.
