Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington Fights for Voluntary Prayer
The Bossier Parish Sheriff is sticking to his guns. The Young Marine program uses prayer on a voluntary basis, but the Justice Department sent the sheriff a letter saying the prayer is not allowed because federal money is used to support the program.
The letter asked the sheriff to sign off on a promise to eliminate prayer from the program. He has refused.
Sheriff Whittington tells us:
"I will never sign that letter. It's unbelievable to me it should be a concern to all Americans that this is where we are that we can't have voluntary prayer or even mention God in anything that we do."
Sheriff Whittington says Bossier's Young Marine program gets about $30,000 a year in federal dollars, but adds:
"The money is not the issue. Its the principal of the matter. Several churches have called and offered checks and that is very reassuring."