By: V4 Agency
An NGO has lodged a complaint against a sheriff for sharing a number of messages with Christian undertones on his official social media account.
The non-profit Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) has filed a complaint against Bland County Sheriff Jason Ramsey of Virginia for posting prayer requests, Bible verses and other messages with religious undertones on his social media account.
The organisation has spoken out against making mention of God on several occasions.
When an atheist advocacy group initiated a federal lawsuit challenging a mandatory voter registration form in Alabama, which requires applicants to declare “So help me God” upon registering to vote, FFFR – an advocate of religious freedom and people’s liberty to maintain a secular mindset – has offered assistance. Its goal is to ensure that official forms are prepared in a way that suits even those who decline to take religious oaths.
Mentioning God in the text of an oath or the motto of a state organisation violates people’s right to religious freedom,…
An initiative to remove the decal “In God We Trust” from the back of police vehicles in Brevard County, Florida, also came from FFRF. The local sheriff refused to surrender to the religious minority, not least because the decal is the motto of not only the state of Florida, but also of the United States.
Sheriff Jason Ramsey is now being attacked for daring to mention God in his posts. According to FFRF’s attorney, the sheriff has reportedly published some messages with religious content. FFRF thinks the posts alienate those members of the Bland County community who do not consider themselves Christians.
The sheriff has, among others, posted messages in which he thanked certain people for their help, often concluding these entries with the words “God Bless!”.
According to FFRF, the sheriff also made a mistake when he wished everyone a pleasant holiday by posting about the resurrection of Jesus at Easter.
The foundation reminded the sheriff that he was required by law to remain religiously neutral as a civil servant.
The sheriff responded to the complaint by seeking a legal opinion from the county attorney. He added that he remained committed to his religious beliefs and expressed his frustration with the behaviour of a “minority who wanted to control the majority.”