It sounds like the ACLU is riled up over Attorney General Marty Jackley starting the community meeting he held in Platte yesterday on the Westerhuis investigation with a pastor offering a prayer, much like they do daily during the legislative session. Except the ACLU decided to grouse about it this time.
Attorney General’s Response to the ACLU on the Constitutional
Right to Freedom of Religion
PIERRE, S.D. – On March 16, 2016, the Attorney General held a community meeting inviting the press and the community in order to provide an update on the death and financial investigation into the Gear Up program. Prior to beginning the meeting, a pastor opened with a general prayer. The ACLU has characterized the prayer as a constitutional violation. Despite positions taken by the ACLU, it is both appropriate and legally permissible.
“Joining a community that has tragically lost an entire family in a moment of prayer is both appropriate and legal. The United States Supreme Court has clearly upheld and recognized the Guaranteed Constitutional Right to Freedom of Religion. As Attorney General, I have joined with other State Attorneys General in successfully allowing gatherings which include local government and other legislative functions to open a meeting with an appropriate prayer. I invite the ACLU to join with me and other State Attorneys General in both recognizing and protecting Civil Liberties and Constitutional Rights,” said Attorney General Jackley.
In August of 2013, South Dakota Attorney Jackley joined 23 other states in a multi-state brief filed in the United States Supreme Court urging that the U.S. Constitution allows for prayer during governmental meetings and legislative session.
In the Town of Greece decision, the United States Supreme Court sided with the Attorneys General position that a township practice of opening each board meeting with a prayer did not violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
The Attorneys General advocated that “The American people deserve an Establishment Clause jurisprudence that is clear, workable, and faithful to the text and history of the First Amendment.” The Court further recognized that legislative prayer, while religious in nature, has long been understood as compatible with the Establishment Clause. This includes opening of governmental meetings where prayer is meant to lend gravity to the occasion and reflect values long part of the Nation’s heritage.
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I think this was a nice way of Marty telling the ACLU to kiss his @$$, and take their complaining and put it where it will never see the sun.
Cruz-like.
Is there a link to the ACLU statement?
Here’s the ACLU link:
http://www.BLAH BLAH BLAH We hate Christianity BLAH BLAH BLAH
Gosh, I hope the link is still active.
Whoa. Chill. Was just wondering what exactly they said that prompted such a wandering tirade from our AG.
Haha, that’s funny! Good for Marty. I know many other SDakotans that share his thoughts and would stand for prayer to continue.
No, not all South Dakotans agree with what Jackley did. There’s a time and place for prayer and that venue was not one of them.
Predictable behavior from the Anti-Christian Liberties Union.
Is Mark or Marty the next governor?
It’s about time politicians stop pandering to these leftist whiners who are ruining our country
YEAH!!! Thats why everyone should vote TRUMP!!! To hell with those leftists whiners! Who cares what they think, cuz this is ‘MERICA!!!
It’s about time politicians stop pandering to right wing fanatics who are ruining our country.
Too wordy.
I hate to say it but PP said it better than MJ.
Good for Marty for standing up for this.
I have to wonder what the ACLU was thinking commenting on this. They know that the Supreme Court has confirmed that prayer is constitutional for meetings of governmental bodies, so they have to know that the constitution does not prohibit a prayer at the beginning of a press conference. Commenting on it only gave the AG another opportunity to show his support for public prayer.