LANCASTER – Social media was peppered with concerns over the last weekend after a religious group scheduled a prayer service in front of the police station. And while the event was part of a nationwide effort with other groups, the one in Lancaster was done by a group from the local Catholic church.
Some concerns on Facebook focused on whether it was appropriate under separation of church and state to hold a religious event on town property. Others were concerned because they said the parent group of the organization that held the nationwide events has “extreme right wing” beliefs and one said she researched the parent organization and it has been “labeled as a hate group by The Southern Poverty Law Center.”
Police Chief Edwin Burgwinkel said the small assembly, involving seven people, was from the Immaculate Conception Church, not an extremist group. He said it only lasted 45 minutes and there were no situations requiring a police response.
Last weekend, the chief said he did receive two emails and was aware of Facebook complaints.
“This small group of members from a church here in Lancaster approached me several weeks ago. They requested permission to gather in front of the police station to take part in a nationwide campaign of 21,000 churches across the country, all who would pray together at exactly 12 noon. The reason for them organizing at the police station was because they felt with everything going on nationwide regarding law enforcement that they wanted to include us in their prayers,” the chief said. “I advised them then that although I appreciated them giving me a ‘heads up’ of the assembly, they did not need my permission to gather on public property. I did as I do with all requests of this nature and that was to determine how many people would be present and if we would have any traffic impact or safety concerns. I arrived at my station on Saturday morning, and welcomed the seven people who arrived for this assembly shortly before noon. Although I was here and inside in the building, I did not participate in the prayer. None of my officers were present or participated in prayer.”
Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco said he was not aware of any problems resulting from the prayer event.
“This group has the same rights as any group of taxpayers,” Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco said. “While I may not agree with everything within their platform, the purpose was simply to perform a prayer service for the safety and benefit of the police department. The event did not involve, include, or promote any other aspect of the organization’s beliefs.”
Pacheco said it was not a breakdown of church and state for a peaceful prayer to be offered for the police.
“The town does not utilize any religious group to advise it in the creation of policy or creation of any rules/regulations,” he said. “We still live in a free country where people have the right to freedom of religion and freedom of assembly.”
Burgwinkel said he did not see the request as an issue.
“To say that I had the authority to cancel this event, or stop it, as two residents asked me to do, would have been a direct violation of their right to freedom of assembly and their freedom of speech. Needless to say it would have certainly impacted the free exercise of religion,” the chief said, adding, “I have two books on my desk, both of them are writings of the U.S. Constitution. Behind me on my wall in my office hangs a full-size copy of this original document. As long as I am the police chief in this town, I will protect every right afforded to our citizens. That is what I am sworn to do, whether I agree with what they are saying, preaching, or writing is irrelevant. What I refuse to recognize is the authority of a non-government, nonprofit group in Montgomery, Ala., to label or characterize any of the citizens of Lancaster under any circumstance.”
Pacheco said this is not the only time recently he fielded questions or complaint about a public assembly.
“Ironically, I was asked the same question a few weeks ago when people were at the First Church in honor of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. People have the right to pray, and support government at any level, regardless if we agree with them in their entirety or not,” Pacheco said.
The information person about the event, Lancaster resident Sharon Jordan Bahosh, did not answer an email asking for comment before The Item went to press.