Virginia ban on state troopers mentioningJesus Christ in public prayers

[ArtSpitzer at aol.com]

I didn't find Eric's post all that persuasive.   I assume it's true that 
police officers and firefighters are more likely than the general population to 
encounter upsetting situations, but when the emergency ends they are in their 
home communities and free to seek spiritual help from their usual civilian 
sources.   And if a police department or fire department thinks its members need 
on-the-job crisis counselling, they are certainly free to hire licensed 
psychologists or social workers, or to seek volunteers from such professions -- people 
who might actually be trained to provide the kind of help that's needed, and 
who would be equally available to all members. (I don't mean that a Christian 
minister wouldn't be happy to minister to a non-Christian, but that a 
non-Christian might not want such ministration.)

Art Spitzer

In a message dated 9/29/08 8:23:38 PM, etreene at comcast.net writes:

> Police officers and firefighters are more likely than the general 
> population
> to encounter exigent circumstances in which they would like/need spiritual
> guidance, such as involvement in a mass tragedy (train crash, 9/11
> response).  In such situations, they quite likely will not have access to
> their clergy when they need it.  Moreover, their lack of access to their
> clergy is a direct effect of their providing a unique public service and
> sacrifice to the public. 
> 




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