Update: Court Upholds Ruling Prohibiting Christian Town Council Prayer

July 23, 2004

Source: The First Amendment Center

http://www.fac.org/rel_liberty/publiclife/news.aspx?id=13769

On July 23, 2004 The First Amendment Center reported, "A federal appeals court yesterday upheld a judge's ruling that prohibits the Great Falls, S.C., Town Council from opening its meetings with a prayer that mentions Jesus Christ. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that such prayers amount to an unconstitutional government advancement of one religion: Christianity. Darla Kaye Wynne, a Wiccan high priestess, sued the town after its leaders refused to open meetings only with nonsectarian prayers or to allow members of different faiths to lead the prayers. Wynne claimed she was ostracized for refusing to stand and bow her head during the Christian prayers."