Texas Judge Begins Court Sessions With Five-Minute Bible Reading And Prayer

Posted by | October 19, 2014 07:42 | Filed under: News Behaving Badly Politics Top Stories

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A judge in Montgomery County, Texas opened a recent court session with a five-minute Bible reading followed by a formal prayer. The prayer to Allah GOP Jesus made some feel uncomfortable.

According to a complainant, the Justice of the Peace stated, “We are going to say a prayer. If any of you are offended by that, you can leave into the hallway and your case will not be affected.”

The Judge then introduced a minister who read from the Bible at length before those in attendance were asked to bow their heads and pray, according to the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

One of the people who observed the Judge’s behavior said in the complaint, “I was very uncomfortable and certainly felt that I was being coerced into following this ritual and that the outcome of my case depended upon my body language.”

Naturally, the judge responded with a prayer breakfast.

Patheos reports:

It’s meaningless that Mack said “your case will not be affected” when all of his other actions indicate otherwise.

Mack never responded to the letter, sent a month ago, however he has scheduled a prayer breakfast in a few days and will talk about the situation then.

In an email to supporters, he said this:

… I will be addressing [FFRF’s] demand that we “immediately end the practice of court prayer” at the Oct 23rd Prayer Breakfast. I am not seeking the potential controversy, as I will have to respond to these groups as well. We are on strong moral and legal ground.

I want to make a statement to show those that feel what we are doing is unacceptable, that not only is it acceptable to our community, but show them that God has a place in all aspects of our lives and public service, during times of tragedy and conflict, when we as a community need to bring peace to the storm. That it is reflected in how we as a community respond and treat each other during these times of tragedy.

Except as a judge he shouldn’t skip over that Separation of Church and State thingy even though it’s popular in right wing circles to ignore that part of the Constitution.

Instead of toning it down, Mack included an appeal to followers to purchase $20 tickets waynemack.org for the prayer breakfast.

Raw Story reports:

Mack’s email was forwarded as an attachment by Betty Anderson from the Montgomery County Eagle Forum who wrote, “A Christian brother, an elected official, needs our help right now. Justice of the Peace Wayne Mack has been warned in a letter sent by the anti-Christian Freedom From Religion Foundation not to continue opening his court in prayer. They believe that God & Faith has no place in public lives and service.”

The email concludes, “Serving the King, and standing up for our God-given inalienable rights to religious freedom.”

Lord, please protect me from your followers. Amen. 

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52 responses to Texas Judge Begins Court Sessions With Five-Minute Bible Reading And Prayer

  1. Larry Schmitt October 19th, 2014 at 07:47

    And the construction of the great American theocracy continues. Of course it had to happen in Texas.

  2. Larry Schmitt October 19th, 2014 at 07:47

    And the construction of the great American theocracy continues. Of course it had to happen in Texas.

  3. Linda1961 October 19th, 2014 at 08:03

    Too bad this “Christian” doesn’t remember Jesus’ admonishment to pray in secret.

    • KABoink_after_wingnut_hacker October 19th, 2014 at 08:11

      Agreed.
      They really like to pick and choose from their book don’t they.

      • Linda1961 October 19th, 2014 at 08:24

        And they pick and choose the wrong parts to follow, but ignore the parts about loving their enemies, turning the other cheek, and helping the needy.

  4. Linda1961 October 19th, 2014 at 08:03

    Too bad this “Christian” doesn’t remember Jesus’ admonishment to pray in secret.

    • KABoink_after_wingnut_hacker October 19th, 2014 at 08:11

      Agreed.
      They really like to pick and choose from their book don’t they.

      • Linda1961 October 19th, 2014 at 08:24

        And they pick and choose the wrong parts to follow, but ignore the parts about loving their enemies, turning the other cheek, and helping the needy.

  5. Carla Akins October 19th, 2014 at 08:16

    If he thinks he is on “strong legal ground” I have to seriously question his rulings.

    • Larry Schmitt October 19th, 2014 at 08:31

      I was thinking the same thing. That sentence (no pun intended) really threw me.

  6. Carla Akins October 19th, 2014 at 08:16

    If he thinks he is on “strong legal ground” I have to seriously question his rulings.

    • Larry Schmitt October 19th, 2014 at 08:31

      I was thinking the same thing. That sentence (no pun intended) really threw me.

  7. Angelo_Frank October 19th, 2014 at 08:35

    Another Texas grifter posing as a judge. These hypocrites have the scam down to a fine science.

  8. Angelo_Frank October 19th, 2014 at 08:35

    Another Texas grifter posing as a judge. These hypocrites have the scam down to a fine science.

  9. Budda October 19th, 2014 at 09:28

    .I see a legal mess coming to his court room, and he won’t like the final outcome. Maybe some civil actions against him along with many of his judgments being overturned will get his attention…but I doubt he’ll learn anything from this coming firestorm.

  10. Budda October 19th, 2014 at 09:28

    .I see a legal mess coming to his court room, and he won’t like the final outcome. Maybe some civil actions against him along with many of his judgments being overturned will get his attention…but I doubt he’ll learn anything from this coming firestorm.

  11. Larry Schmitt October 19th, 2014 at 10:36

    And Betty is wrong. The FFRF is not anti-christian, it’s pro the right of people to live their lives without having ANY religion shoved down their throats. It’s just that the christians are more insistent about it than anyone else, so they naturally feel that anyone who resists is anti-christian.

  12. Larry Schmitt October 19th, 2014 at 10:36

    And Betty is wrong. The FFRF is not anti-christian, it’s pro the right of people to live their lives without having ANY religion shoved down their throats. It’s just that the christians are more insistent about it than anyone else, so they naturally feel that anyone who resists is anti-christian.

  13. rg9rts October 19th, 2014 at 11:18

    Now lets have a reading from the quoran and then the Talmud

  14. rg9rts October 19th, 2014 at 11:18

    Now lets have a reading from the quoran and then the Talmud

  15. Ricardo Drywaal October 19th, 2014 at 11:58

    This is America. We do not serve kings.

  16. Ricardo Drywaal October 19th, 2014 at 11:58

    This is America. We do not serve kings.

  17. Foundryman October 19th, 2014 at 12:16

    Must be the judge who replaced Louie Gohmert….

  18. Foundryman October 19th, 2014 at 12:16

    Must be the judge who replaced Louie Gohmert….

  19. Roctuna October 19th, 2014 at 12:22

    In Texas you can drive a couple of Ford pickups side by side through the hole in the wall

    • 0P-Tigrex October 19th, 2014 at 18:40

      Spot on

    • R.J. Carter October 20th, 2014 at 11:17

      I like it, except I think there would be two holes in the fence, and the word balloon would be bi-directional.

      • DragonTat2 October 20th, 2014 at 14:53

        Really? I’d like churches to pay taxes, too.

  20. Roctuna October 19th, 2014 at 12:22

    In Texas you can drive a couple of Ford pickups side by side through the hole in the wall

    • Barney The Dinosaur October 19th, 2014 at 18:40

      Spot on

    • R.J. Carter October 20th, 2014 at 11:17

      I like it, except I think there would be two holes in the fence, and the word balloon would be bi-directional.

      • DragonTat2 October 20th, 2014 at 14:53

        Really? I’d like churches to pay taxes, too.

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