County Commissioner Won’t Let Non-Christians Pray At Meetings, Tells Them ‘Stay The Hell Away’

[KamaAina]

http://www.liberalamerica.org/2015/05/09/county-commissioner-wont-let-non-christians-pray-at-meetings-tells-them-stay-the-hell-away/

The chairman of the county commission in Lincoln County, North Carolina has a message for his non-Christian constituents–if you’re not a Christian, you won’t be allowed to give invocations at county commission meetings.

Earlier this week, a federal judge ruled that the commissioners in Rowan County, an exurban county northeast of Charlotte, won’t be allowed to open county commission meetings with sectarian prayer. That didn’t sit too well with Carrol Mitchem, the chairman of the county commission in Lincoln County, a suburban county northwest of Charlotte. He told the Lincoln Times-News that if a Muslim ever offered to give an invocation, “I’m going to tell them to leave.” Mitchem didn’t want non-Christians telling him who could pray at their meetings–and anyone who didn’t like it could “stay the hell away.” He contended that the ruling amounted to “changing the rules on the way the United States was founded, (the) Constitution was founded.”

Mitchem doubled down in an interview with WBTV in Charlotte. “I ain’t gonna have no new religion or pray to Allah or nothing like that,” he snapped. He added that anyone who didn’t want to hear a Christian prayer could leave the room and “wait until we’re done praying.” To Mitchem’s mind, telling non-Christians that their prayers won’t be welcome as invocations is more than appropriate since this country is a Christian nation.

“Other religions, or whatever, are in the minority. The U.S. was founded on Christianity,” Mitchem said. “I don’t believe we need to be bowing to the minorities. The U.S. and the Constitution were founded on Christianity. This is what the majority of people believe in and it’s what I’m standing up for.”

[malthaussen]

1. So once again, representatives defy the law.

This is getting old. Fortunately, the courts tend to win eventually.

-- Mal

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. I am willing to lay good odds

On a contempt of Court.

Though there is an easy solution. No invocation.

[KamaAina]

3. No invocation? In North Carolina?

They have invocations at basketball games down there.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. I know

But that is one way to avoid it. That is why a contempt of court is likely.

By the way invocations for everything are not just in SC. Like every government function and HS game and School event starts with them in SoCal. That and the pledge

Granted, our invocations are a tad more varied.

[gratuitous]

4. Yeah, if those mooslims don't like it . . .

They can go the county commission across the street!

Er, that is . . .

Sounds like some people could use a little refresher on the concept of a government of the people, which means *all* the people, not just the ones you like.

[KansDem]

5. Well, that's mighty Christian of him!

Here's the good ol' boy--



I ain’t gonna have no new religion or pray to Allah or nothing like that...

I wonder if he prays using that version of English?

[Thinkingabout]

7. This nation was not founded on Christianity, it was so important there was a freedom of religion.

I wonder if it is possible every elected official would be required to take civics and constitution classes and perhaps you would not hear dumb things like this.

He isn't much different than ISIS. They discriminate against other religions though they take it further and kill them. If a Muslim said the only prayers would be Muslim he would be screaming to high heaven. I do not respect religions downing other religions nor complaining about atheists. Our nation is better than this.

[olddots]

8. why isn't he a republican presidential candidate ?

There is still room on the ship of fools.

[malthaussen]

9. Patience, he's making his move.

First he needs to cash in on the national exposure this stand against the infidel will get him.

-- Mal

[madamesilverspurs]

10. Sounds like he'd be right at home

with my commissioners. Amazing that these "christians", in their haste to be more Jesussy than Jesus, totally obliterate his message. Yuck.

[tanyev]

11. How about the Christians get together a few minutes before the meeting starts and pray in private?

You know, like Jesus said to do in Matthew 6.

[GeorgeGist]

12. Almost makes me wish that there was a God ...

to humiliate their sorry asses.

[Paladin]

13. It's called establishment of religion.

The First Amendment used to prohibit it, once upon a time.