Police and fire chaplains in Carlsbad, California have been ordered to stop praying in the name of Jesus.
Pastor JC Cooper has served as a volunteer chaplain for the police department for six years. The other day he was asked to deliver the invocation at a police department awards ceremony. He concluded the prayer by invoking the name of Jesus Christ. Watch below and click here to get Todd’s breaking news alerts.
Afterwards, the city manager told Pastor Cooper that if he ever prayed in the name of Jesus he would be subjected to disciplinary action.
In a call with City Manager Scott Chadwick and the police chief on April 25, Mr. Chadwick claimed that invoking “Jesus” was considered harassment, created a hostile work environment, and lifted one religion above another. Mr. Chadwick then told JC that he could pray using any other name or term for God, but he could not say “Jesus.”
First Liberty Institute
The same thing happened when Pastor Cooper’s father – Denny – tried to deliver an invocation at the fire department.
City Manager Scott Chadwick says invoking the name of Jesus is considered harassment and creates a hostile work environment.
First Liberty Institute is representing the Coopers and they argue that the city has violated the U.S. Constitution.
“Because the chaplains cannot in good conscience erase the name of Jesus from their prayers, this order deprives first responders of the solace and spiritual strength that the chaplains’ volunteer ministry has provided for nearly two decades,” First Liberty wrote in a demand letter to the city.
First Liberty says the Establishment Clause is not meant to purge religion from government.
In 1776 the Continental Congress had a robust tradition of both public prayer and chaplain programs. So, if chaplains are good enough for our Founding Fathers, they should be good enough for Carlsbad City Hall. Click here to read my new book, “Twilight’s Last Gleaming: Can America Be Saved?”