6/29/05 Woman who fought Great Falls over prayer plans to stay
Woman who fought Great Falls over prayer plans to stay
The Associated Press
June 29, 2005
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The woman who fought Great Falls all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court over the Town Council's opening prayers plans to keep living in the Chester County community.
"I know they are trying to run me out of town but I'm not going anywhere," Darla Wynne said.
The high court refused to hear Great Falls appeal of a lower court's ruling that a prayer that mentions Jesus is not allowed because it favors one religious faith.
Wynne sued the Chester County town in 2001 after town council refused to either limit prayers to those mentioning only "God" or allow members of different religions to give their own prayers.
Wynne practices Wicca, a nature-based religion based on ancient Western European and pre-Christian beliefs.
She called Tuesday's decision a victory for common people.
The town also will have to pay Wynne $40,000 in legal fees, said Herbert Buhl III, Wynne's lawyer.
Several religious leader and the state attorney general's office joined Great Falls in fighting the suit.
The town stopped mentioning Jesus in its prayers in 2003, and town attorney Michael Hemlepp said he will recommend they follow the lower court's ruling.
"The people down here wanted us to continue the fight," said Town Councilman J.C. Broom, who usually leads the prayers before meetings. "Even the president's inauguration prayer mentioned Jesus. I'm terribly disappointed."
The Rev. Mike Sollers, pastor at Evangel Temple Assembly of God church in Great Falls, called the decision a sad day in America and said many in the town opposed Wynne, thinking she just wanted to stir things up.
"The idea that she did this for the town is absurd and ridiculous," Sollers said
The decision resonates beyond Great Falls. Any government body that uses Jesus Christ's name in prayers could be violating a court order, Buhl said.
The South Carolina Municipal Association told its members not to mention Jesus in its prayers several months ago.
Since the legal fight began, Wynne said she has been the target of harassment, vandalism, and violence. But she doesn't plan to move away. In fact, Wynne said she will be in the audience at Great Falls next Town Council meeting on July 18.
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Information from: The Herald,
The Associated Press
June 29, 2005
ARTICLE FEATURES
• e-mail this article
• print this article
• discuss this article
The woman who fought Great Falls all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court over the Town Council's opening prayers plans to keep living in the Chester County community.
"I know they are trying to run me out of town but I'm not going anywhere," Darla Wynne said.
The high court refused to hear Great Falls appeal of a lower court's ruling that a prayer that mentions Jesus is not allowed because it favors one religious faith.
Wynne sued the Chester County town in 2001 after town council refused to either limit prayers to those mentioning only "God" or allow members of different religions to give their own prayers.
Wynne practices Wicca, a nature-based religion based on ancient Western European and pre-Christian beliefs.
She called Tuesday's decision a victory for common people.
The town also will have to pay Wynne $40,000 in legal fees, said Herbert Buhl III, Wynne's lawyer.
Several religious leader and the state attorney general's office joined Great Falls in fighting the suit.
The town stopped mentioning Jesus in its prayers in 2003, and town attorney Michael Hemlepp said he will recommend they follow the lower court's ruling.
"The people down here wanted us to continue the fight," said Town Councilman J.C. Broom, who usually leads the prayers before meetings. "Even the president's inauguration prayer mentioned Jesus. I'm terribly disappointed."
The Rev. Mike Sollers, pastor at Evangel Temple Assembly of God church in Great Falls, called the decision a sad day in America and said many in the town opposed Wynne, thinking she just wanted to stir things up.
"The idea that she did this for the town is absurd and ridiculous," Sollers said
The decision resonates beyond Great Falls. Any government body that uses Jesus Christ's name in prayers could be violating a court order, Buhl said.
The South Carolina Municipal Association told its members not to mention Jesus in its prayers several months ago.
Since the legal fight began, Wynne said she has been the target of harassment, vandalism, and violence. But she doesn't plan to move away. In fact, Wynne said she will be in the audience at Great Falls next Town Council meeting on July 18.
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Information from: The Herald,
posted by Aestrea Raven at Wednesday, June 29, 2005
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