Taylor County has responded to the Freedom From Religion Foundation that it is not promoting religion in county buildings.

In a letter dated Sept. 19 from Taylor County Assistant District Attorney Frank Stamey, the county denied the foundation's allegations of "several constitutional violations" that endorse religion.

Specific complaints in an Aug. 30 letter from foundation associate counsel Sam Glover were:

A banner advocating a bake sale for the Ben Richey Boy’s Ranch in the tax assessor’s office supported a “Christian-based, private, nonprofit basic child care facility” that was “evangelistic” in nature.

Multiple displays within the building that promote religion, including “two crosses on employees’ desks and a painting with a Bible verse.”

Two ‘God Bless America” signs, one on the door of the Veterans’ Services Office, another inside the Taylor County Plaza building.

In his response to Glover and the foundation, Stamey addressed each allegation and cited court precedent.

More:Taylor County addressing national anti-theist group's allegations of endorsing religion

God Bless America

Stamey wrote, "The phrase 'God Bless America' has historical and patriotic significance in the United States. The Supreme Court has established that general references to 'God,' such as in 'God Bless America,' do not violate the Establishment Clause (of the U.S. Constitution); these references do not favor or disfavor any particular religion."

Based on applicable law, the use of the phrase "God Bless America" is constitutional, he wrote.

Employee displays of crosses and Bible verse

Stamey wrote government employees have a First Amendment right to display religious materials in their work areas. The crosses and a painting are the expressions of the employees, not the county.

"Taylor County does not intend to endorse nor does it, in fact, endorse religion by allowing its employees to exercise their First Amendment rights in their personal work areas," according to the response. A reasonable person would not perceive the employees' passive displays to be an endorsement or disapproval of a particular religion or religious viewpoint, he wrote.

Ben Richey fundraiser

"The fundraiser was not conducted for the purpose of endorsing religion," Stamey wrote. "Instead, it was conducted for the secular purpose of helping needy and at-risk boys in Taylor County."

Under the Supreme Court's three-part Lemon test in Lemon v. Kurtzman, the fundraiser was constitutional, he wrote.

In a previous Reporter-News story, County Judge Downing Bolls said, county officials were "being very careful that we're not in the position of establishing a religion."

Following publicity about the Freedom from Religion Foundation letter, another group, the First Liberty Institute, weighed in a letter of its own.

“It is common for complaint letters like you received to prompt government reactions that violate the free speech and free religious exercise rights of citizens and public employees,” the group said.

On Thursday, Roger Byron, senior counsel to First Liberty Institute, issued a statement saying: “We are glad to see Taylor County’s officials correctly resolve this situation with respect for the law and the religious liberty of its employees. This is a good reminder for all officials that religious government employees enjoy the same First Amendment rights as their non-religious counterparts.”

Taylor County Response to Freedom From Religion Foundation 9-19-18