There are new rules when it comes to prayer in Chesapeake after some groups accused the city of crossing the line between church and state.
For years, the Chesapeake city council has prayed. Only recently someone noticed and didn't like what they heard.
That's when the freedom from religion foundation stepped in.
So the foundation representing atheists and agnostics wrote this letter to the city:
"We received a complain from one of our members in Chesapeake that there was a lot of Jesus talk and we knew that was a constitutional no-no."
The group cited two recent Supreme Court rulings prohibiting prayer about any particular god or religion at city meetings.
"The founders of our country did not feel it necessary to pray when they adopted our entirely secular and godless constitution, so we don't know why the city council in Chesapeake feels it's necessary to pray for things like sewer problems and liquor licenses."
Chesapeake city attorney Ron Hallman reviewed the complaint and decided to make a change.
Prayer will go on, but from now on invocations at city meetings will have to be nonsectarian - no mention of specific gods or religions.
Those the same guidelines were adopted in Chesterfield County after a long legal battle.
In light of the policy change the freedom from religion foundation says it will not pursue any legal action against Chesapeake, for now.
Although there will be people at future meetings to make sure the new policy is being followed.
For years, the Chesapeake city council has prayed. Only recently someone noticed and didn't like what they heard.
That's when the freedom from religion foundation stepped in.
So the foundation representing atheists and agnostics wrote this letter to the city:
"We received a complain from one of our members in Chesapeake that there was a lot of Jesus talk and we knew that was a constitutional no-no."
The group cited two recent Supreme Court rulings prohibiting prayer about any particular god or religion at city meetings.
"The founders of our country did not feel it necessary to pray when they adopted our entirely secular and godless constitution, so we don't know why the city council in Chesapeake feels it's necessary to pray for things like sewer problems and liquor licenses."
Chesapeake city attorney Ron Hallman reviewed the complaint and decided to make a change.
Prayer will go on, but from now on invocations at city meetings will have to be nonsectarian - no mention of specific gods or religions.
Those the same guidelines were adopted in Chesterfield County after a long legal battle.
In light of the policy change the freedom from religion foundation says it will not pursue any legal action against Chesapeake, for now.
Although there will be people at future meetings to make sure the new policy is being followed.
