Editor's note and update: After this article was published, Carlsbad Police Department Chief Christie Calderwood sent an email to LET that included a letter from City Attorney Cindie McMahon. Chief Calderwood also clarified that the chaplains for the city are volunteers, not paid employees. The letter from McMahon indicated that the city's intent is to avoid "religious descrimination" by disallowing the use of the term "in Jesus' name."
The letter reads, in part, "Moreover, when police and fire chaplains participate in these ceremonies, they do so as volunteer members of the police and fire departments, not as members of the community. Their invocations at these ceremonies are part of their official duties and are, for constitutional purposes, considered to be government speech attributable to the city, not private speech. Accordingly, the invocations are not shielded from the city's control." The letter further states that, as termination is not applicable for volunteer memebers, the chaplains will instead be "excus[ed]...from giving invocations."
CARLSBAD, CA - First Liberty reports that the city manager, Scott Chadwick, has ordered the chaplains for the city’s fire and police departments not to conclude prayers by saying “in Jesus' name.”
JC Cooper is a local pastor who has served as a volunteer police chaplain for the city’s police department for six years. His father, Denny Cooper, has served in a similar role for the Carlsbad Fire Department for 18 years.
According to First Liberty, the two chaplains “provide support, encouragement, and prayer to first responders as they face traumatic situations. Recently, Pastor JC Cooper was asked to give the invocation at the police department’s award ceremony. As he has always done, the pastor concluded his prayer “consistent with his long-held beliefs, ‘in Jesus’ name.’”
That apparently did not sit well with Chadwick, who told Pastor Cooper that he could no longer use “in Jesus’ name” from his invocations, he would be subject to discipline. He was told that he could use any other name in place of God, however he could not use the Son of God, Jesus.
The policy appears to stem from a decision made in 2023, when the city council voted to discontinue the pre-meeting invocations that had been a part of their meetings since at least the 1950s, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
As is typical, a number of individuals spoke out in support of the decision to eliminate the invocation from council meetings, citing the ill-understood so-called “separation of church and state,” which appears nowhere in the First Amendment.
In supporting the continuation of an invocation, former city council member Mark Packard dismissed First Amendment concerns.
“This would be a return to the good values that we have had for so long in Carlsbad,” said Packard, noting that the Congress starts each legislative session with an invocation and reminding members that courts have ruled such readings are not a violation of the so-called “separation of church and state.”
In attempting to justify his muzzle on the two emergency services chaplains, Chadwick claimed that praying in Jesus’ name “constituted harassment of non-Christians and created a hostile work environment.”
First LIberty’s Legal Counsel Kayla Toney inferred Chadwick’s analysis was flawed, according to the Christian Post.
“This is not a true or accurate understanding of the law, which has always protected the prayers and expressions of religious Americans,” she said. “Ironically, the city manager’s order has created a hostile environment for the Chaplains and many other people of faith living in Carlsbad.”
Toney explained that the Supreme Court had upheld the right of city officials to have religious invocations at their meetings.
“In Kennedy v Bremerton, the Supreme Court overruled the ‘Lemon Test’ which was used to purge expressions of faith from public life,” Toney said.
“Now the Court looks to history and tradition, and our nation has a long tradition of public prayers by chaplains according to their sincere religious beliefs. So there’s a lot of work left to do, but also good reason for hope.”
In a 2014 Supreme Court decision, the high court ruled 5-4 in Town of Greece v. Galloway that a New York town could use ministers to pray Christian invocations as part of their official meetings.”
In addressing the Carlsbad mandate, First Legal wrote:
“Because the chaplains cannot in good conscience erase the name of Jesus from their prayers, this order deprives first responders of the solace and spiritual strength that the Chaplains’ volunteer ministry has provided for nearly two decades,” the letter reads.
“Therefore, we urge the City Council to return to its longstanding practice of inviting the Chaplains to pray freely in accordance with their sincere religious beliefs.”
First Liberty said the city’s decision “stems from a misunderstanding about the law and Supreme Court precedent,” and “has offered to assist the City in developing a constitutionally appropriate chaplain policy.” And they are willing to do so free of charge.
They concluded that the censoring of city chaplains “betrays the history and traditions of our country,” and instead they “should instead follow the Supreme Court’s clear statements with respect to prayer and allow them to pray according to their sincere religious beliefs.”
Comments
2024-06-20T22:08-0400 | Comment by: Michael
they “should instead follow the Supreme Court’s clear statements with respect to prayer and allow them to pray according to their sincere religious beliefs.” Anti-Christian bigot Leftist extremists are not concerned with Constitutional rights. Plain old common sense would have told them that they can't play their old game of excluding Christian faith, foundational to our great country, from the public arena. They pushed this country left and are we better off? Obviously not. Time to push back as hard or even harder than they have done.
2024-06-20T23:05-0400 | Comment by: Carlton
Get a new mayor
2024-06-21T18:49-0400 | Comment by: Peter
Just change the close of a convocation to, "In the name of the wanker, Scott Chadwick"
2024-06-21T22:34-0400 | Comment by: Don
Everyone on the Left wants us to follow the law, unless the law allows us to practice historical standards that were the bulwark behind this great Nation (see the 2014 Supreme Court decision, where they ruled 5-4 in Town of Greece v. Galloway that a New York town could use ministers to pray Christian invocations as part of their official meetings.). The Carlsbad, California city manager, Scott Chadwick, should be terminated from his employment for violating an otherwise lawful religious expression by these ministers. Maybe he never heard or read about the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as Amended, or the scores of U.S. Supreme Court cases that cover the subject of freedom of religion.
2024-06-21T22:35-0400 | Comment by: Don
Everyone on the Left wants us to follow the law, unless the law allows us to practice historical standards that were the bulwark behind this great Nation (see the 2014 Supreme Court decision, where they ruled 5-4 in Town of Greece v. Galloway that a New York town could use ministers to pray Christian invocations as part of their official meetings.). The Carlsbad, California city manager, Scott Chadwick, should be terminated from his employment for violating an otherwise lawful religious expression by these ministers. Maybe he never heard or read about the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as Amended, or the scores of U.S. Supreme Court cases that cover the subject of freedom of religion.
2024-06-22T06:48-0400 | Comment by: gracey
democrats order Americans to be godless as they destroy America for china money, their god.
2024-06-22T07:33-0400 | Comment by: Rev John
"separation of Church and state" dies not mean what many think it means. The Constitution prohibits government from establishing a state religion or supporting one religion over another. It does not prohibit the free expression of religion by any person. First amendment would allow a Christian to pray in the name of Jesus, a Rabbi to pray in the name of Yahweh, an Imam to pray in the name of Allah.
2024-06-22T07:33-0400 | Comment by: Rev John
"separation of Church and state" dies not mean what many think it means. The Constitution prohibits government from establishing a state religion or supporting one religion over another. It does not prohibit the free expression of religion by any person. First amendment would allow a Christian to pray in the name of Jesus, a Rabbi to pray in the name of Yahweh, an Imam to pray in the name of Allah.
2024-06-22T07:40-0400 | Comment by: Samuel
I would just start the prayer with all the follows is in The NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH WHO DIED ON A CROSS TO GIVE A ONE AND ONLY ACCESS TO HEAVEN FOR ALL WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM. theN proceed with rest of prayer and end with Thanks. They didn't say anything about how you start your prayer.
2024-06-22T07:40-0400 | Comment by: Samuel
I would just start the prayer with all the follows is in The NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH WHO DIED ON A CROSS TO GIVE A ONE AND ONLY ACCESS TO HEAVEN FOR ALL WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM. theN proceed with rest of prayer and end with Thanks. They didn't say anything about how you start your prayer.
2024-06-22T08:29-0400 | Comment by: arthur
The so called 'Separation of Church and State' was taken from a letter that Jefferson wrote to a friend, and has been taken highly out of context, and is not found anywhere in the Constitution or the Bill of rights. The Church was always meant to be involved in the affairs of the State, but the State was never meant to interfere with or have any power over the Church, or what it can or can't say from the pulpit. People tend to forget our history, when for a very long time, people would gather in Churches, as well a pubs, to talk politics, and politics at times was preached from the pulpit from a Biblical perspective, giving people something to chew on before they would vote. And as it should be. Now, Pastors, or at least the ones that are still teaching the true and undiluted Gospel, are afraid to do this, as they might get censored, or their church might lose it's tax free status if they do so, which is a shame, as now the Government is getting involved in the affairs of the Church, which was never intended. I'm going to add one more thing. If people would read the writings of the Founders, they would discover rather quickly that this country was founded as a Christian Nation, and for a 'Moral People', not for a nation of various religions, all equal. People came to this country for freedom of the Christian religion, because they were being persecuted in England by the King there, and could not worship God the way they choose to do so. This did not mean they intended for ALL religions to be treated equally. This was founded as a Christian Nation, full stop. While other religions are tolerated and respected as long as Americas laws are respected and obeyed, that does not detract from the fact that the Founders intended for us to remain Christian, Moral, and upright towards God and Jesus first and foremost. We have lost sight of that.
2024-06-22T08:36-0400 | Comment by: Jeanette
May the Lord Jehovah open their minds and hearts in Jesus Christ name. Amen.
2024-06-22T09:15-0400 | Comment by: DS
What an ATHEISTIC state... NO wonder so many are leaving CA... PIGLOSI and NEWSOM are devils.
2024-06-22T09:16-0400 | Comment by: DS
What an ATHEISTIC state... NO wonder so many are leaving CA... PIGLOSI and NEWSOM are devils.
2024-06-22T10:32-0400 | Comment by: Laurence
Petty nonsense. What difference does it make if they say Jesus, God, or whatever? Our Constitution plainly states people have the right to practice any faith they want to. Technically, this silly rule is illegal.
2024-06-22T11:13-0400 | Comment by: Chris
These kind of people keep infringing on our rights and never get tired of being sued for violating them. You do not get to tell others what they are allowed to say.
2024-06-22T11:47-0400 | Comment by: Lynn
Well, in reality, the Messiah's name was never "Jesus", which phonetically equates to "Hey Zeus". Since there is "one name under heaven by which men must be saved" and we are COMMANDED not to take that name in vain, shouldn't we care enough to figure out what that name is? You can call me Lynn-duh, or Fred for that matter, and I will probably answer you, but at some point it becomes a matter of respect to figure out what a person's name actually is. Same with "IN GOD WE TRUST" slogans; which god? The same one that is on Federal Reserve notes with their pagan symbolism? The god of rapidly rising Islam, who begot no son? I'd prefer to keep religion out of politics, as what is good for the goose (Christian) is good for the gander (pagan), and you know they will test it. Just look at the Satanic statues erected at some State capitols. You want Christian school clubs? Well, be prepared for Satanic and Islamic ones.
2024-06-22T11:47-0400 | Comment by: Lynn
Well, in reality, the Messiah's name was never "Jesus", which phonetically equates to "Hey Zeus". Since there is "one name under heaven by which men must be saved" and we are COMMANDED not to take that name in vain, shouldn't we care enough to figure out what that name is? You can call me Lynn-duh, or Fred for that matter, and I will probably answer you, but at some point it becomes a matter of respect to figure out what a person's name actually is. Same with "IN GOD WE TRUST" slogans; which god? The same one that is on Federal Reserve notes with their pagan symbolism? The god of rapidly rising Islam, who begot no son? I'd prefer to keep religion out of politics, as what is good for the goose (Christian) is good for the gander (pagan), and you know they will test it. Just look at the Satanic statues erected at some State capitols. You want Christian school clubs? Well, be prepared for Satanic and Islamic ones.
2024-06-22T12:46-0400 | Comment by: Bruce
Arthur's comment below is 100% correct. The phrase "separation of church and state" is NOT IN THE UNITED STATES CONTTITUTION. Scott Chadwick needs to be removed from his office for costing the taxpayers monies to fight a lawsuit that is clearly in violation of our founding ruling document. Maybe some WOKE organization needs someone that uneducated to work in their corp/organization. Or at the very least remaind Scott Chadwick to study class to learn about what he thinks he knows.
2024-06-22T16:07-0400 | Comment by: Teri
Telling a Chaplain especially, but anyone that prays, and especially prays “in the name of Jesus Christ “ will be fired immediately. overstepping their boundaries. To make a long statement short, These actions are unconstitutional. If you don’t know the constitution or the amendments to the constitution then educate yourself on it before making such rash claims. Here I’ll help. First Amendment Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. You are correct, the first amendment is about free speech, but just look at the beginning before free speech. It says very clearly, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech. Let’s get this straight, closing an invocation or benediction in the name of Jesus Christ- Amen falls directly under freedom of religion, respecting their places of establishment whether it is in a formal chapel, someone’s home, or a prison. Prohibitions on saying those specific words is also illegal and against the first amendment to the constitution freedom of speech. Our military fought for these freedoms and for this country; which our glorious Father in Heaven in whom I glorify preserved this promised land and would not be held down by a monarchy. Instead of trying to police the police, fire chaplains, and all other first responders and every other person out there, try looking at your life and figure out what improvements you need to make in your own life.