Kaine takes on police prayer flap

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine released a letter to House Majority Leader Del. Morgan Griffith on Thursday saying he wanted to “clear up” some misinformation about state police chaplains being required to keep prayers nondenominational.

A news release distributed by Griffith the day before “contained a great deal of misinformation,” Kaine said in the letter.

“My office gave no directive to the state police, there is no mandate prohibiting police chaplains from mentioning Jesus Christ,” Kaine wrote.

“No one has lost their jobs or positions because of this. All of which was stated or implied in your press release,” Kaine wrote to Griffith in a letter released to reporters late Thursday.

Six of the 17 state police officers who served in the dual role of chaplains, in addition to their law-enforcement duties, have resigned as chaplains since the policy went into effect, state police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said.

They continue to work in their law-enforcement jobs.

Griffith said Thursday that he stood by his comments and that they attacked Kaine’s policy, because as governor he supervises the state police.

Griffith’s news release, titled “Kaine Administration prohibits chaplains from mentioning Christ,” was not directed at Kaine personally or at his faith, which is Catholic, Griffith said.

“In no way was it ever meant as an attack on the governor himself or his faith. His misguided policy, yes, but not on his faith,” Griffith said.

The prayer policy, originated by State Police Col. Steven Flaherty, stemmed from a federal appeals court ruling. Flaherty asked the chaplains to offer non-denominational prayers at department-sanctioned public events such as trooper graduations and annual memorial services, Kaine said in his letter.

“As the Colonel noted, his guidance does not apply to private ceremonies, such as counseling sessions or funerals, and therefore does not ban chaplains from offering denominational services, nor does it ‘prohibit state police chaplains from mentioning Jesus Christ’ at these ceremonies, as your press release indicates,” Kaine said in the letter.

Earlier Thursday, Democratic Party officials held a conference call with reporters to denounce Griffith’s news release.

“Vilifying Tim Kaine, a person of faith and a man of his stature who sings in the Gospel choir of his church, is ridiculous,” said Del. Dwight Jones, D-Richmond. Jones is a candidate for mayor of Richmond, an office Kaine once held.

Republicans have had their own opportunities to speak up on state government policies involving ecumenical prayer requirements and haven’t done so, said Jones and state Sen. Donald McEachin, D-Richmond.

Kaine said in his letter that Flaherty gave his instructions to the chaplains “after consultation with the attorney general’s office.”

Also, Jones and McEachin said, House of Delegates sessions begin each day with prayers that are intended to be non-denominational — a guideline that church pastors who deliver the prayers sometimes don’t observe.

Kaine, in his letter, said Griffith, as majority leader, considered the religious freedoms of people of other faiths when he “crafted the House of Delegates’ policy” for the daily invocation.

The attorney general’s office avoided saying directly whether it had vetted the new state police chaplain policy.

“The office of the Attorney General does not discuss legal advice given to our clients,” said Tucker Martin, spokesman for Attorney General Robert McDonnell.

“In his individual capacity, Attorney General McDonnell is a vigorous supporter of religious liberty and the right of the clergy to freely practice their faith,” Martin said.