A legal dispute has emerged in California over religious expressions at public events. A city official's ban on chaplains praying 'in Jesus name' has been deemed unconstitutional by an attorney representing two chaplains. The ban, imposed by city manager Mr. Chadwick, was described as harassment and creating a hostile work environment. J.C. Cooper, a volunteer police chaplain, and his father, Denny Cooper, a volunteer fire chaplain, were affected by the ban after J.C. Cooper concluded an awards ceremony prayer with the words 'in Jesus’ name.' Mr. Chadwick reportedly told them they could use any other name or term for God but not 'Jesus,' according to Ms. Toney.
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“Mr. Chadwick then told J.C. [Cooper] that he could pray using any other name or term for God, but he could not say ‘Jesus,’” Ms. Toney wrote. https://t.co/f7WOoquHrC
J.C. Cooper, a volunteer police chaplain, and his father, a volunteer fire chaplain, were confronted with the edict after the younger Mr. Cooper concluded an awards ceremony prayer with the words, “in Jesus’ name,” a common closing in Christian circles. https://t.co/f7WOoquHrC
Mr. Chadwick, according to the letter, told Denny Cooper and his son, J.C. Cooper — both chaplains — that the use of Jesus’ name during public events was “considered harassment, created a hostile work environment, and lifted one religion above another.” https://t.co/f7WOoquHrC
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A California city manager's attempt to strike the word "Jesus" from prayers and invocations at public events is unconstitutional, according to an advocate for two chaplains impacted by the ban. https://t.co/xqVn5Pku28
California city official’s ban on chaplains praying ‘in Jesus name’ unconstitutional, attorney says https://t.co/HYvNTHpPFI https://t.co/gcuOTAqsJd
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