Commissioner Takes Back Some Words After Vowing to Keep Public Prayer Christian
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LINCOLN COUNTY, NC — The Lincoln County Commissioner who said no prayer but Christian prayer should be allowed in public meetings is taking back some of his words.
Commissioner Carrol Mitchem was reluctant to talk after his passionate prayer promise led to outrage.
“I was not speaking for the entire board,” said Commissioner Mitchem. “I was speaking my opinion, and that was probably a mistake on my part.”
Last week he told a local newspaper reporter that he’d do everything in his power to keep prayer at commission meetings Christian.
He said in the recording, “They don’t need to be in here praying to Allah or whoever they pray to. Who do they pray to? Buddha?”
He also added later in the interview, “They don’t like it, stay the hell away.”
Lincoln County residents who are Muslim jumped into the debate Wednesday.
“That stung,” said Duston Barto. “The get the hell out comment I’ve heard quite a bit..”
Barto is a 40-year resident in Lincoln County. He wrote the commissioner this week.
“I can see that he just doesn’t know, and that’s why I reached out to him and said look, I want to talk to you. What I believe is a lot of what you believe,” said Barto.
After WCCB Charlotte’s first report Monday, the American Civil Liberties Union says several calls came into the Raleigh offices.
“The Supreme Court itself has said meetings cannot dismiss people who seek to give invocations and have different beliefs,” said Spokesperson Mike Meno.
Mitchem now says, “That was a bad statement on my part. I’ll accept all responsibility. That should not have been said. I’ll admit that, but I still stand by what I said about not listening to those who pray to some other God other than the God I believe in.”
Regardless, he says he will still conduct business with others as usual.
“I will not treat them any differently than any other citizen of Lincoln County. That’s not the way we do business, not the way I do business,” said Commissioner Mitchem.
He says by next Monday’s meeting, the board plans to endorse a new policy including all religions in the prayer.
