Carroll Co. commissioner violates federal prayer ruling
Commissioner Robin Frazier says she's 'willing to go to jail over it'
Updated: 8:38 AM EDT Mar 28, 2014
Kai Reed
News Anchor, Reporter
Carroll County Commissioner Robin Frazier
It's a prayer showdown in Carroll County.After a federal judge issued a temporary injunction telling Carroll County board members not to refer to Jesus, any specific deity or any specific date during meetings, Commissioner Robin Frazier did just that at the start of Thursday's board meeting.Mobile users, tap here for video"Out of respect for my colleagues -- I'm not sure how strongly they feel about it. I'm willing to go to jail over it," Frazier said during the meeting, referring to Jesus Christ twice despite the ruling."(Let) the Lord Jesus Christ to admit me to render these deserved thanks and praises for thy manifold mercies extended toward me. Let thy blessings guide this day, and forever, through Jesus Christ and his blessed form of prayer, I conclude my weak petitions," she said during the meeting.After receiving complaints, some Carroll County residents and a group called American Humanist Association issued a warning to the board about "sectarian prayer" during meetings in 2012 and then followed up with a lawsuit in April 2013."After the judge has already agreed with us that that's what's going on, I think it's particularly troubling that one of the council members saw fit to violate not only the Constitution but the judge's very specifically ruling that they can't be doing this," said Monica Miller, an attorney for the American Humanist Association.After Frazier's prayer on Thursday, the attorneys for the plaintiffs sent a letter saying they would refrain from seeking contempt charges in that one instance but warned that there would be consequences if the defiance continued."She's really sort of turning this into something that it shouldn't be about, and it's really furthering our point that legislative prayers are divisive and they really do entangle government with religion," Miller said. "The next step is, if they do this again, we will file a motion for contempt.""My concern is, really, who cares? If they say Jesus, I mean, does it really offend anybody?" questioned resident Brian Resch."Prayer doesn't have a place in government. My second take on it is that she doesn't belong in office if she can't follow the law," said resident Jane North.Commission members did not address Frazier's prayer specifically but issued a statement saying that they believe an upcoming Supreme Court decision will overturn the Carroll County injunction and that "Americans and their government" have offered prayers in the name of Jesus for "hundreds of years."The next commissioners meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. April 1.
WESTMINSTER, Md. —
It's a prayer showdown in Carroll County.
After a federal judge issued a temporary injunction telling Carroll County board members not to refer to Jesus, any specific deity or any specific date during meetings, Commissioner Robin Frazier did just that at the start of Thursday's board meeting.
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Judge halts prayers at Carroll County board's meetings
Mobile users, tap here for video
"Out of respect for my colleagues -- I'm not sure how strongly they feel about it. I'm willing to go to jail over it," Frazier said during the meeting, referring to Jesus Christ twice despite the ruling.
"(Let) the Lord Jesus Christ to admit me to render these deserved thanks and praises for thy manifold mercies extended toward me. Let thy blessings guide this day, and forever, through Jesus Christ and his blessed form of prayer, I conclude my weak petitions," she said during the meeting.
After receiving complaints, some Carroll County residents and a group called American Humanist Association issued a warning to the board about "sectarian prayer" during meetings in 2012 and then followed up with a lawsuit in April 2013.
"After the judge has already agreed with us that that's what's going on, I think it's particularly troubling that one of the council members saw fit to violate not only the Constitution but the judge's very specifically ruling that they can't be doing this," said Monica Miller, an attorney for the American Humanist Association.
After Frazier's prayer on Thursday, the attorneys for the plaintiffs sent a letter saying they would refrain from seeking contempt charges in that one instance but warned that there would be consequences if the defiance continued.
"She's really sort of turning this into something that it shouldn't be about, and it's really furthering our point that legislative prayers are divisive and they really do entangle government with religion," Miller said. "The next step is, if they do this again, we will file a motion for contempt."
"My concern is, really, who cares? If they say Jesus, I mean, does it really offend anybody?" questioned resident Brian Resch.
"Prayer doesn't have a place in government. My second take on it is that she doesn't belong in office if she can't follow the law," said resident Jane North.
Commission members did not address Frazier's prayer specifically but issued a statement saying that they believe an upcoming Supreme Court decision will overturn the Carroll County injunction and that "Americans and their government" have offered prayers in the name of Jesus for "hundreds of years."
The next commissioners meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. April 1.