Family Foundation backs bill on prayer

By Tyler Whitley

Published: January 9, 2009

-- The Family Foundation of Virginia wants state police chaplains to again be allowed to pray to Jesus.

Del. Charles W. Carrico Sr., R-Grayson, said he is preparing a bill that would prohibit the superintendent of the Virginia State Police from ordering chaplains to deliver nondenominational prayers at such functions as trooper graduation ceremonies and the annual memorial service for fallen officers. Six chaplains resigned in protest last year.

Carrico said such "censorship" denies the religious liberty rights of the chaplains. The chaplains should be allowed to pray to Allah, if they wish, he added.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, who in October defended the action by Superintendent of State Police W. Steven Flaherty, said Wednesday that chaplains could continue to perform their ministerial duties and if they don't want to make a nondenominational prayer, they don't have to.

The Family Foundation, an organization that promotes conservative family values, also said it would push for legislation that requires the state's Family Life Education curriculum to teach the benefits of marriage.

Victoria Cobb, president of the foundation, said she was surprised to learn that the family-life program is silent on the benefits of marriage.

Del. Brenda L. Pogge, R-James City, said scientific studies show that a stable marriage between a man and woman has economic, physical and emotional benefits.

She cited a study showing that family breakdowns cost Virginians nearly $1 billion a year in social-services costs.

The Family Foundation has been working for several years to lower the high rate of divorces in Virginia.

To promote more transparency in government, the foundation will get behind legislation that would make state government expenditures more public. The proposal, which failed last year, would incorporate a search engine into the state budget's Web site.
Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or .