Walhalla, USA - The American Civil Liberties Union said an Oconee County councilman broke the law by using Jesus Christ's name in his prayer during a council meeting.
The Rev. Bill Rinehart had said if he wasn't allowed to use Jesus' name Tuesday that he would resign.
The ACLU sent a letter last month to Oconee County and two other governments asking them to follow a federal court ruling that bans mentioning Jesus Christ in public prayers.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, ACLU member Michael Deanhardt told members he was disappointed. Deanhardt said the county broke the law by using Jesus' name in the prayer.
ACLU chapter president Mike Cubelo said he plans to have an attorney talk to the council about the federal court ruling in a case involving Great Falls.
In July 2004, a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower judge's decision that prayers before meetings of the Great Falls Town Council were unconstitutional because by mentioning Jesus Christ's name, they honored one faith over another.
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the town's appeal.
Rinehart said he is not trying to pick a fight but thinks he should be allowed to pray the way he needs to.