Watchdog group sends letter to Senate leaders over Campbell prayer
Monday, March 21, 2011 at 4:19 pm
- 8 Comments
The watchdog group Americans United for the Separation of Church and State sent a letter to Minnesota Senate leadership Monday warning the chamber that Pastor Dennis Campbell‘s prayer last week was unconstitutional. Addressed to Senate President Michelle Fischbach, Majority Leader Amy Koch and Minority Leader Tom Bakk, the letter also urged the leaders to either refrain from allowing prayers in the Senate or to ensure that if it continues to do so it does in a way that respects other traditions.
The letter — which was signed by Ayesha N. Khan, Americans United’s legal director; Gregory M. Lipper, the group’s litigation counsel; and staff attorney Ian Smith — stated that numerous courts have ruled the type of prayer that Campbell gave, one that quotes Christian scripture and invokes Jesus Christ, unconstitutional.
“Pastor’s Campbell’s prayer was unconstitutional because it was sectarian and proselytizing,” the letter states. “The U.S. Supreme Court has held that the Constitution permits prayers at the beginning of legislative sessions if those prayers do not contain language or symbols specific to one religion.”
The letter, which cites reporting by the Minnesota Independent, goes on to state that several lower courts have allowed even broader leeway than the Supreme Court, and the type of prayer given by Campbell was of the sort that those lower courts have ruled against.
“Pastor Campbell’s prayer was unconstitutional even under the more permissive standard adopted by” other courts, wrote the attorneys.
The letter concluded, “Because the Senate is designed to represent all Minnesota citizens, regardless of faith, we urge you to refrain from opening future sessions with any type of prayer. If the Senate does continue open meetings with prayers, however, the Constitution requires you to ensure that they do not advance any particular religion.”
The prayer raised the ire of non-Christian senators and departed from longstanding tradition that allowed clergy from different faiths to offer prayer so long as the prayer is inclusive of all senators’ beliefs. Over the weekend, Campbell addressed those concerns, especially by Jewish lawmakers who commented, stating that he wasn’t “seeking to offend anybody but seeking to show respect for Jesus Christ, the creator, redeemer, savior and one day our judge, and we know the founders of the constitution were very supportive of Jesus Christ and the Bible.”
The letter, which appears below, echoes sentiments shared with the Minnesota Independent last week by Rob Boston, senior policy analyst at Americans United:
Follow Andy Birkey on Twitter8 Comments
Comment posted March 21, 2011 @ 4:42 pm
Heck yeah! I’m glad to see they recognize the proselytizing and are calling for No Prayer as the best alternative. High Five!
Comment posted March 21, 2011 @ 5:20 pm
Yes indeed–way to go Americans United!
“…stating that he wasn’t “seeking to offend anybody but seeking to show respect for Jesus Christ, the creator, redeemer, savior and one day our judge, and we know the founders of the constitution were very supportive of Jesus Christ and the Bible.”
How is it I get the feeling that right after this statement, virtually on the tip of the pastor’s tongue, was a continuation of this statement that might go something like,
“…we know the founders of the constitution were very supportive of Jesus Christ and the Bible, [didn't believe in this church/state separation myth, didn't allow birth control or abortion, hated socialism, approved of gays being burned at the stake, and were, with Jesus in full agreement, ardent supporters of giving firearms training to toddlers. Amen. And oh, they also accepted the likelihood of Jesus having a pet dinosaur as a kid.]“
Comment posted March 21, 2011 @ 7:11 pm
Ive always wondered why about the need to sell sell sell this wonderful religion at every opportunity. Door to door, touring revivals, televangelists, on and on. A weird combination of salvation and insecurity. Jesus needs to come back soon and get his followers back on message. On a lighter note if Pastor Campbells veins were sticking out any further his testicles would be popping out his ears. Power of prayer I guess.
Comment posted March 22, 2011 @ 12:38 pm
Thanks AU.
@Eric- Good point. I’m still waiting for Palin, Bachmann and Pawlenty to share their beliefs on where dinosaur bones come from and how old they are. Some people should have no influence over science and history standards.
Praise Jebus, God hates facts, Amen.
Comment posted March 23, 2011 @ 12:20 am
So in the name of not offending the non religious, you want to descriminate against the religious. Bunch of hippocrites that only think of political correctness. Regardless of if you believe in a religion it does not give the right to deny someone the ability to hear or practice their faith out loud and in public if they so choose,including leading a public prayer. DOMA is a case of needing seperation of church and state, not a pastor leading those that believe the same as he does in a prayer.
Comment posted March 23, 2011 @ 10:27 am
“Regardless of if you believe in a religion it does not give the right to deny someone the ability to hear or practice their faith out loud and in public if they so choose,including leading a public prayer”
Actually you are wrong.
From the article:
““The U.S. Supreme Court has held that the Constitution permits prayers at the beginning of legislative sessions if those prayers do not contain language or symbols specific to one religion.””
Campbell’s invocation did indeed contain language or symbols specific to one religion, thus it is permissible to forbid that kind of prayer.
Comment posted March 23, 2011 @ 11:52 am
I don’t understand how it is discrimanation against religion to not allow it at a public gathering.
I go to meetings to work not to listen to others pray.
I have yet to see a bill for legislators to take a 10% pay cut.
Comment posted March 23, 2011 @ 6:11 pm
Christian activists continue to believe that their perceived rights supersede the rights of others.
I do not believe that religious freedom includes stalking or harassing an unwilling audience, preaching to a captive audience, or usurping the forums of others.
Christian activists and evangelicals, like the Taliban, suffer the sin of pride, and will, in the end, be judged accordingly.
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