FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
June 28, 2022
Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
Religious Facebook Graphic Posted, Deleted from Macomb County Clerk Page
The post comes days after a major SCOTUS ruling and concerns about separation of church and state
MICHIGAN – On Tuesday, the official Macomb County Clerk-Register of Deeds Facebook page posted a religious, prayer-like graphic on the page before deleting it. A screenshot of the post is included below. The post comes on the heels of several major Supreme Court decisions that have spurred conversations about religious freedom and the separation of church and state.
“County public services are supposed to be open for everyone and religious statements like this shared through official channels are bound to look like a closed sign for many people in the community,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “Of course, public officials are entitled to their religious beliefs, but sharing these beliefs through an official platform that exists to connect residents with public services they rely on is highly inappropriate. Although this post was deleted, Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini should answer why this was posted in the first place. Macomb County is a richly diverse place of people and backgrounds, and its residents deserve government services that they can trust and rely on regardless of whether they choose to worship or not.”
While the screenshot included here does not include the full statement on the graphic, it’s a common posting across social media and in its entirety says, “God, thank You for loving me. You see me as I truly am, and You still accept me! Today, I bring all my false labels and names to You. You know what I’ve been called, and what I’ve believed about myself. Please replace any false narratives with Your truth: that I am Your child, and greatly loved by You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
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