POLK COUNTY, FL – Despite legal threats from a Wisconsin atheist group, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd was back at the pulpit of a Lakeland church, in uniform. The group, the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), feels if the sheriff wants to speak or preach at a church, he should be wearing his Sunday best, not a uniform.
The issue came to light after a sermon the sheriff delivered in April at the First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland surfaced online.
FFRF sent the sheriff a letter of complaint last week.
“Promoting your personal religion using your Polk County title and uniform gives the unfortunate impression that the county supports and endorses the First Baptist Church on the Mall and its religious teachings,” said Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel.
On Father’s Day, the sheriff was invited to speak at the Fellowship Church in Lakeland. He feels this particular group needs a lesson in the law.
“First off, they are misinterpreting the law, separation of church and state was specifically created to keep the state from creating a church. Or to tell a church how to worship or what to do.” Judd said, standing outside of the church, in his uniform. “You know what’s interesting to me, is this is a handful of atheists that are trying to decide what I wear and what i’m referred to as I serve the community. “
At least one member of the congregation feels the sheriff wearing his uniform is just fine.
“He’s the sheriff,” Dale Westberry said. “And he has his beliefs and opinions and he should be in uniform, why not?”
News Channel 8 sent an e-mail to FFRF on Sunday afternoon for comment on the group’s next course of action, but its Madison, WI offices were not open.
