Freedom

Court refuses to hear appeal on "Jesus Christ" in council prayers; Witch sued town in 2001

The Great Falls Town Council has suffered another setback in its appeal of a court that prohibits the group from opening meetings with a prayer that mentions Jesus Christ. A three-judge panel of the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals in July ruled such prayers were an unconstitutional government advancement of one religion. The entire court refused to hear the town's appeal this week. Darla Kaye Wynne, a Wiccan high priestess, sued the town in 2001 after its leaders refused to open meetings only with nonsectarian prayers or to allow members of different faiths to lead the prayers. Posted by Editor at November 5, 2004 10:27 PM