Judge Allows Prayer Before Forsyth County Commissioners Meetings

A federal judge ruled Thursday  that prayer can be allowed before a Forsyth County commissioners meeting. The action follows a recent similar ruling before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The county's lawyers argued before Judge James Beaty that he should drop a 2010 order that banned commissioners from having clergy deliver pre-meeting prayers that refer to Jesus Christ or other deities.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this year that a New York town's inclusive policy meant it didn't violate the Constitution by allowing ministers to deliver Christian prayers at meetings. Forsyth County had used a similar practice before it was blocked by an earlier court order.

The ACLU argued that all faiths and beliefs should be allowed to participate. Forsyth's rules had limited it to religious leaders from established local congregations.