Virginia State Police chaplains are now free to invoke Jesus — or any other religious figure — during public events, Gov. Bob McDonnell said Wednesday, marking the end of a year-and-a-half old ban on sectarian prayer.
State Police Superintendent Col. Steven Flaherty ordered the non-denominational prayers in 2008 as a response to a federal court ruling barring the mention of Jesus during Fredericksburg City Council invocations. A half dozen troopers resigned from the volunteer chaplain program as a result.
“The Governor does not believe the state should tell chaplains of any faith how to pray,” said McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin on Wednesday. “Religious officials of all faiths should be allowed to pray according to the dictates of their own conscience, and in accordance with their faith traditions, while being respectful of the faith traditions of others.” – William C. Flook
