Government council leaders across the Southeast face giving up sectarian prayers some have used for ages after a 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision last week said the town of Great Falls can't invoke Jesus Christ's name.
The court's decision directly affects what goes on in Bible Belt states, including South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.
"It's a pretty significant case because it comes from such a conservative court," Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, said. It's a landmark ruling, he said. "For this to get this far is certainly a good step for religious liberty."
The decision by the three judges on the court "means other councils should and will stop giving sectarian prayers," said Andrew Siegel, assistant professor of law at the University of South Carolina School of Law. Elected officials who challenge the ruling with religious-specific prayers could face expensive lawsuits that they are likely to lose as a result of the precedent, he said.
In 2001, Darla Kaye Wynne, who practices the earth-centered Wicca religion, sued the Great Falls Town Council for invoking Jesus Christ during meetings. She said the prayers made her uncomfortable and were used to ostracize her from the community.
"I was being called a Satanist," Wynne said. "I've been threatened to be burned out."
Great Falls has not decided to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court or to seek a hearing before the full appeals court. The latter would "a possibility, but it's not particularly likely," Councilman Earl Taylor said.
Some see a battle line drawn.
"I, for one, will never, ever, ever deny Jesus Christ in any shape or form," Dorchester County Council Chairman Randy Scott said He plans to ignore the ruling. "As far as I'm concerned, we will always say Jesus' name at the end of a prayer."
Charleston County councilman Tim Scott says the "ruling is utterly ridiculous. If we have freedom of religion, does that not include Christianity? .... If I'm going to pray and I'm a Christian, I'm going to pray to Jesus."
The ruling is an "attack on the basic fabric and foundation of this country," Scott said.
Mark Tanenbaum, who is Jewish and frequently attends Sullivan's Island Town Council meetings, said he looks forward to more inclusive prayer.
"I hope any municipality that uses any form of prayer will know that they have to respect the rights of everyone," he said.