'Jesus Christ,' Other Religious References, Voted Out of Carroll County Meetings

"Jesus Christ" was voted out of Carroll County government sessions by a divided board of commissioners.

Reacting to legal pressure for the board to halt sectarian references in invocations, the board voted 3-2 to follow a federal judge's injunction against religious reference, The Baltimore Sun reported.

The commissioners resolved Tuesday that prayers may still reference “God,” “Lord God,” “Creator” and “Lord of Lords,” but they must be non-sectarian and led by board president David Roush, who voted in favor of the change.

Richard Rothschild, one of two commissioners who opposed the resolution, said it would force him “to refuse to acknowledge the Son of God.” 

“I humbly and respectfully declare that I cannot and will not sign a document that forward binds me to enact disobedience against my Christian faith,” Rothschild added, according to the Sun.

Monica Miller, a lawyer for the American Humanist Association who is representing the plaintiffs, said Tuesday that the vote is “a great gesture,” but that the contempt request will stand. The resolution also bans the board from requiring or asking anyone to stand for the prayer.