Archives for 2013

Urgent Petition!  Defend Military Chapels. Demand Congress stop desecration of Christian chapels and altars on military bases. Select here, sign petition, we will fax all 535 Congressmen and Senators (saving you time!) Or sign free option here.

Jesus wins?  Oral arguments at Supreme Court.  Chaps predicts 6-3 decision.

I am amazed and relieved.  I just read all of today’s oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court today in the case of Greece vs. Galloway.  I am almost giddy.  I think we’re about to make history in favor of the right to pray in Jesus’ name in government forums.

I hereby predict the court will rule 6-3 in favor of Jesus prayers, announcing next July.

By the tone and tenor of the questioning, it is quite clear that all five Republican-appointed Justices Roberts, Alito, Scalia, and Kennedy (with Thomas silent) did affirm and will rule in favor of the right to pray in Jesus’ name, even at city council meetings.

A sixth Democrat-appointed Justice Breyer asked questions implying he favors allowing Jesus prayers, applying the same standard for legislative prayers in all city councils and state legislatures that is currently used by the U.S. Congress, which allows diversity.

The court’s three female Democrat-appointed Justices Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan however, initially appear to oppose Jesus prayers in their questioning.

Here is a link to the full text of the oral arguments.  Lawyers Hungar and Gershengorn argued in favor of allowing pastors to pray “in Jesus’ name” when giving the invocation before city council meetings.

The anti-Jesus lawyer Laylock argued against allowing Jesus prayers, and directly asked the government to censor the word Jesus Christ from prayers.  Read in particular pages 24-25, 40-41, and 51-52.  The Justices cracked jokes about allowing atheist prayers.

The bottom line was summarized by Justice Kagan, who may yet surprise me and make this a 7-2 decision.  Here’s her quote.

JUSTICE KAGAN:  All hypotheticals aside, isn’t the question mostly here in most communities whether the kind of language that I began with, which refers repeatedly to Jesus Christ, which is language that is accepted and admired and incredibly important to the majority members of a community, but is not accepted by a minority, whether that language will be allowed in a public town session like this one. That’s really the question, isn’t it?

MR. LAYCOCK: That’s the issue that actually arises in the case.

JUSTICE KAGAN: That’s the issue that actually arises. Here’s what — I don’t think that this is an easy question. I think it’s hard, because of this. I think it’s hard because the Court lays down these rules and everybody thinks that the Court is being hostile to religion and people get unhappy and angry and agitated in various kinds of ways.

JUSTICE KENNEDY: It just seems to me that enforcing that standard and the standard I suggested involves the State very heavily in the censorship and – and the approval or disapproval of prayers.

[Dr. Chaps’ comment:  Bingo.  Kennedy nailed it.  The anti-Jesus complainers are demanding state censorship of citizens’ speech and prayer content.  That violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.  Ballgame.  We will win, God willing.]

Now let’s demand Congress restore religious freedom for military chaplains and troops:

Please select here to sign urgent petition, and we will fax all 100 Senators (saving you time!) to PROTECT MILITARY CHAPELS, CHAPLAINS AND TROOPS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM to oppose immorality, restore the good chapel amendment from H.R. 4310.

Or you may choose our Free Petition Option Here.

Historic:  Supreme Court hears “Jesus Prayers” Case.  Take action!

About six years ago, I sent a personal fax to the Supervisor of Greece, New York, John Auberger, who is a Christian man defending freedom of speech against atheist or anti-Jesus complainers with Americans United for Separation of Church and State, who had threatened to sue the Town of Greece.

In my fax, I recommended Auberger hire Christian lawyers from the Alliance Defending Freedom (then called Alliance Defense Fund), and adopt their policy allowing freedom by members of all diverse faiths to pray according to their own faith, even if they pray “in Jesus’ name.”

The anti-Jesus complainers sued, demanding government censorship or exclusion of “Jesus prayers” from town meetigs.  Auberger took my advice and hired ADF lawyers.

This week those Christian lawyers I recommended will argue before the United States Supreme Court, the MOST IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS FREE SPEECH CASE in our generation, a case called Greece vs. Galloway. The Washington Times summary is here.

Watch!  Dr. Chaps’ 7-minute TV commentary on the Supreme Court case Greece v. Galloway, here–>

The court can rule one of two ways:

1)  Jesus prayers are to be banned as “illegal speech” or censored in some government settings.

2)  Jesus prayers cannot be banned as “illegal speech” because Congress cannot make a law forbidding freedom of speech.

Gee, I wonder which the court will rule?  It is entirely possible they will fail, but I suspect and I predict they will get this right, and side with Auberger and the Town of Greece.

Please pray with me, but also let’s petition Congress to defend the right to pray “in Jesus’ name” for military chaplains…

Please select here to sign urgent petition, and we will fax all 100 Senators (saving you time!) to PROTECT MILITARY CHAPELS, CHAPLAINS AND TROOPS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM to oppose immorality, restore the good chapel amendment from H.R. 4310.

Or you may choose our Free Petition Option Here.

God Bless you, in Jesus’ name,

Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt, PhD
Who is Dr. Chaps?   Read bio here.

Prefer to donate by mail?  Please write:  The Pray In Jesus Name Project, PO Box 77077, Colorado Springs, CO  80970.