I really hate beating a dead horse, but the Forsyth County prayer story just keeps getting resuscitated and I end up beating it again...and again. This time, though, I'm not going to talk about the case itself because there are better and plentiful sources for that. Rather, I'm going to focus on what I consider to be an egregious amount of disinformation being spewed by a private interest group, the North Carolina Partnership for Religious Liberty (NCPRL). Part of me wants to accuse them of lying, but lying implies a single act and what they are engaging in appears to be a systematic and ongoing campaign to deceive the citizens of Forsyth County.
Don't believe me? Check out this piece in Yes! Weekly that shows just some of their PR campaign to convince the people of Forsyth County to rally in support of county commissioners appealing the Federal judge's ruling against the County. To their credit the campaign worked, but to their discredit the campaign completely misrepresented what the case is all about. They continue to beat the drum that citizens' rights to pray to any deity they wish is being threatened even when they have to know that the only thing being threatened is the county government's ability to invite anyone to pray to a deity of their choice and, in so doing, endorsing a religion.
I'm fine with the idea that the NCPRL disagrees with the ruling. I'm also fine with them arguing to keep the status quo. I'm not fine with them using a campaign of disinformation to do it. As Christians they should be ashamed of themselves. I'm also really "not fine" with the fact that one reason our commissioners agreed to appeal was because the NCPRL agreed to cover $300,000 in legal fees. The fees the county is on the hook for are already exceed $125,000 and it's not a stretch to think that the fees could quickly exceed $300,000 and the agreement with the Partnership clearly states that they can't be held liable for any fees exceeding $300,000. There's also the not-so-small matter of whether or not the Partnership even has the $300,000. They say they do, but has anyone seen proof? Update: Scott Sexton wrote in his column that the group's leader Steve Cort provided proof at the County Commissioner's meeting that they have an escrow account with the $300,000.
Side note/question: Would the partnership's records be subject to FOIA requests since their involved with a government entity?
Lastly I'm going to repeat something I've said many times before and I'm addressing it to all the citizens of Forsyth County: if you don't believe that your right to pray to whichever deity you choose is safe then try any of the following and see if you're stopped:
- Sign up to speak at a county commission meeting during the public comments period. When your turn comes up just get up there and pray to your hearts content. They can't, and won't, stop you.
- Stand anywhere on public property and say a prayer. They can't, and won't, stop you.
