ACLU Demands Harrison County, West Virginia, Stop Funding 'Jesus Fest'

Officials in Harrison County, West Virginia, are feeling the heat from the American Civil Liberties Union over government funding of a local event known as "Jesus Fest."

The ACLU sent a letter, which was obtained by The Blaze, to the county demanding that it stop funding the annual event.

According to the letter, the ACLU maintains that the government funds are being used in defiance of the U.S. Constitution's Establishment Clause.

The clause calls for "government neutrality between religion and religion, and between religion and nonreligion," according to the letter. "In order for a government action to comply with the Establishment Clause, the action must have a secular purpose ..."

Jesus Fest is described on the event's website as, "a family oriented festival with a focus on creating unity in the Body of Christ, which is accomplished through an interdenominational approach utilizing ecumenical leadership and the involvement of local area churches."

One of the stated goals of Jesus fest is to "reach into our families by providing an environment where Christians can unite in fun, food and fellowship, listen to Christian music, hear the exciting news of our Lord and enjoy themselves in the love of Jesus."

Jesus Fest event organizer B.K. Vanhorn told the Charleston Daily Mail that the event is much like other festivals for which the county provides funding.

"The bottom line is you don't have to be Italian to enjoy the Italian Heritage Festival and you don't have to be black to enjoy the Black Heritage Festival," Vanhorn said. "And you don't have to be a Christian to come to Jesus Fest."

County Commissioner Ron Watson told WBOY that the money for Jesus Fest is not taxpayer dollars but that it comes from lottery proceeds.

"It comes from what I call devil's money which is gambling money from video lottery and table games that the county has received," Watson told the station.

In its letter to the commission, the ACLU says it expects the county to reach a decision on future Jesus Fest funding by Jan. 6.

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Comments

[ttsgw]

11:29 AM on 01/07/2012

Join the new Kopimism religion:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/01/04/file-sharing-religion-church-of-kopimism_n_1183727.html

[iLdoRight]

04:14 AM on 01/07/2012

Who will build me a better government out of real honest, morally upright people? What is the name of that mythological character who is still looking for an honest person?

[hhl482]

08:02 PM on 01/06/2012

C'mon, people - they're just trying to use the 'devil money' to fund the Jesus Fest. How can you godless communists put a religious spin on that?

[Forester]

04:48 PM on 01/06/2012

Evangelicals make no secret of their intention to continuously infiltrate our government with the goal of forming a theocracy. As American citizens, we have duty to defend our Constitutional Republic from any and all foes both internal and external. Democracy requires constant vigilance, and it is something worth fighting, and dying for. Many have.

[QuisUtDeos]

02:03 PM on 01/06/2012

It's jesus fest. What need does it have of money? Throw a couple fish and loaves of bread in a basket and pass them around. Jesus will spontaneously refill them, won't he?

[DaniFoxy]

08:52 AM on 01/06/2012

My hair guy, Tony, says he will dress up as Mohammed for Islam-fest.

[TomMartin]

07:33 AM on 01/06/2012

I bet they would not be so willing to fund a Judaism Fest, an Islam Fest, a Hinduism Fest, and an Atheism Fest.

[TomMartin]

07:28 AM on 01/06/2012

It comes from socialist lottery proceeds, not from private lotteries. So it is against the First Amendment.

[John Ramsey001]

06:03 AM on 01/06/2012

But I want my tax dollars to fund events like these. How many tax dollars go to liberal pet projects?

[Hecktic Skeptic]

11:05 AM on 01/06/2012

If you think your tax dollars should fund religious events, move to a theocratic country. This is America.

[John Ramsey001]

04:18 PM on 01/06/2012

It is my money. Hey if you could use tax money to fund liberal pet projects, why can't anyone else. What makes you think that you liberals should have special privileges?

[mflorian]

12:36 AM on 01/07/2012

You can't have what you want in this case. It's against the Constitution.

[iLdoRight]

03:57 AM on 01/07/2012

It cost me $14,000 to get my Constitutional free Rights, Why? I think it was cause of Satanics in Government.

[syllable]

11:11 PM on 01/05/2012

Arguably, what is disturbing about this discussion is that any American would find the ACLU's
position on this matter arguable.

[mericart]

10:19 PM on 01/05/2012

This is an obvious case of government-sponsored religion. The county has no business holding a Jesus fest or any other festival celebrating one particular faith.

[trekie70]

09:08 PM on 01/05/2012

Wow, could WV make it any easier for the ACLU? This case will take about 5 minutes for the jury to decide.

[mrkurtzhedead]

01:20 AM on 01/06/2012

Judge, I hope. You want this decided by West Virginians?

[debnran]

04:31 PM on 01/06/2012

Even if it goes to jury, they have to abide by the Constitution. If the ACLU loses, it will appeal - they may hope it does so that they can get this to the Supreme Court.

[NHBill]

08:52 PM on 01/05/2012

Wow.
This one ain't even close.
If it goes to court the county loses.

[TheLadyOphelia]

08:42 PM on 01/05/2012

"It comes from what I call devil's money which is gambling money from video lottery and table games that the county has received," Watson told the station.

Key word here: COUNTY: A result of the divison of the STATE into workable sections.


If they want money for Jesus fest, then raise it through church raffles, dinners, etc.

I have to laugh at the term used, "devil's money" - but it's good enough to be used for Jesus fest? Rather hypocritical... and typical.

[ljwynn14207]

07:55 PM on 01/05/2012

The city and or state should not be funding any sort of religious celebration!!!