Nonsectarian prayers available, too

The ACLU is asking Virginia State Police Superintendent Steven Flaherty to distribute pamphlets to all troopers who serve as chaplains in order to make it clear that they may deliver only nonsectarian prayers at department-sponsored events, the Virginia Politics blog reports.

The move comes days after Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) directed Flaherty to reverse a two-year-old policy banning troopers from referring to Jesus Christ in public prayers.

"Our simple message to the superintendent and to police chaplains is to follow the law, regardless of whether or not a prayer policy is in place," ACLU of Virginia Executive Director Kent Willis said. "Our pamphlet does more than just state the bottom line that official prayers at government events must be nonsectarian. It also explains to chaplains how the courts came to their decisions leading to current state of the law."