Virginia governor gets flak for Jesus
May 2, 2010
Staff — the Underground
Two years ago, former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine forced State Police Chaplains to deny Christ or resign from their jobs. As a result six chaplains resigned, and two others– Rex Carter and Mike Honaker, decided to turn in their badges.
Now current Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is getting flak because he overturned Kaine’s decision, and has allowed state Police Chaplains to publicly pray, “in Jesus name.”
This has upset the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who felt the ban should have been embraced rather than rejected.
They accused McDonnell of giving in to conservatives and Christians, and cited the First Amendment in defense of the ban.
[…]
The restoration of the right to pray “in Jesus name” came as a result of a two-year campaign led by Chaplain Klingenschmitt, who led rallies, sent up to 15,000 petitions, and faxed voters guides to over 23,000 Virginia pastors in the name of free speech.
This mobilized the pastors and shifted the election polls, previously at 47-44 percent, to 59-41 percent in favor of McDonnell.
The church goers and conservatives shifted their support on the basis of this issue.
With McDonnell fulfilling his campaign pledge, the six chaplains who had lost their jobs and Rex Carter and Mike Honaker will be invited back to their jobs.
