Gov. Tim Kaine: Virginia is NOT for lovers... of Jesus Christ

Like Tanya Tucker's golden oldie, "Jamestown Ferry", It will probably be 'a hot day in January' when Virginia's Democrat Governor Eyebrow decides to defend religious freedom, at least for Christians, anyway. Or is Obama worship now the only approved "government speech" in Kaine's religious rulebook? Then again, perhaps Kaine was the governor whom Democrats really intended to compare to Pontius Pilate.

The birthplace for religious freedom in America is quickly becoming its graveyard.

"News stories broke across Virginia today concerning a case The Family Foundation became involved with last week. The superintendent of the Virginia State Police, a political appointee of Governor Tim Kaine, recently ordered State Police chaplains to cease praying “in Christ’s name.” Apparently the superintendent did this proactively, without any complaints from anyone “offended” that a chaplain had actually prayed to God.

Several of the chaplains have had the courage to resign their positions over this order.

Last week we were informed of this new policy and were put in contact with one of the chaplains involved. We then connected him with Alliance Defense Fund, one of the leading religious liberty legal advocate groups in the nation. They are currently reviewing the facts of the case to determine the proper action. Yesterday, Delegates Morgan Griffith (R-8, Salem) and Bill Carrico (R-5, Independence) slammed Governor Kaine and the State Police superintendent for this new policy in a press release, bringing this situation to light.

The superintendent says that he is basing his policy change on a recent 4^th Circuit Court decision involving prayer at government meetings, specifically a case where a pastor in the Fredericksburg area was ordered to stop praying “in Jesus name” at city council meetings. The court concluded that allowing someone to publicly pray according to his beliefs at a government meeting was an "establishment of religion" because the prayer was "government speech."

Once again the religious liberty and free speech rights of Christians have been banished from the public square. Arguing that allowing someone to offer a sectarian prayer is an “endorsement of religion” is absurd. It turns the establishment clause of the First Amendment against the free exercise clause as if the two are incompatible. Just the idea that there is such a thing as “government speech” violates the fundamental idea of America.

Our Founding Fathers must be rolling in their graves.

This situation again highlights the importance of who will be sitting on court benches deciding these cases. Ultimately it is likely that this will all be resolved by the United States Supreme Court. Because at least two justices on that court are likely to retire during the term of the next President, the judicial philosophy the candidates for president hold is a critical decision point as we determine who should receive our vote.

We will continue to work with the troopers involved in this case, the Alliance Defense Fund, and members of the General Assembly to seek an outcome where religious liberty once again stands as a pillar of strength in our Commonwealth!"

Victoria Cobb, President

The Family Foundation of Virginia