September 29, 2008

If you are a Christian and someone asked you not to pray publicly in Jesus’ name, you probably would refuse. That is precisely what at least six voluntary Virginia state police chaplains have done.

The request of the chaplains was made by the state police superintendent, Colonel Steven Flaherty. The chaplains resigned in protest. I say, good for them.

You can bet that Muslims would not be asked to cease praying to Allah. As the attempt to secularize America continues, we will see more of this. What kind of prayer do they want, one that begins “to whom it may concern”?

A Christian prays in Jesus’ name. If they don’t want Christians to pray they shouldn’t ask them to be chaplains. To require a Christian not to pray in Jesus’ name is to ask that person to deny his or her faith. It is also a violation of the First Amendment, which liberals use to silence any expression of serious Christian faith, but use to keep the public square free of any mention of Jesus; except when used as a curse word.

I wish we had more people of conscience like the Virginia police chaplains.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.