Court lifts bar to Christian prayer in Md. county

DAVID DISHNEAU
Associated Press

A federal judge in Baltimore is lifting an order barring Christian prayers at the opening of government meetings in Carroll County, Maryland.

Judge William Quarles vacated his March 25 preliminary injunction Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Christian prayers at town board meetings in Greece, New York.

The plaintiffs in the Maryland case say they won’t be deterred.

Attorney David Niose (nee-OH’-see) of the American Humanist Association says the two cases are factually different.

The prayers that open the Greece town board meetings are said by local clergy members, whereas the prayers at Carroll County Commissioners meetings have been said by the commissioners, with some praying specifically to Jesus Christ.

Niose says that amounts to unconstitutional government speech favoring a specific religion.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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