WFD catches heat over "In God We Trust Email"

From Star News Online today:

http://watchdogs.star...

WATCHDOG$: City orders employee to remove religious message from email
Wilmington city officials have told a Fire Department captain to stop using the words "In God we trust" on emails sent from his city email address after a complaint from a concerned resident.

The employee's signature line was clearly in violation of the separation of church and state stipulated in the U.S. Constitution, the city told Watchdog$. The line has been removed from Capt. Danny Grafius' signature.

The resident sent an email to City Council members demanding that they stop the "misuse of city resources." She said it was offensive to her as a taxpayer and highly insensitive to those who don't believe in God.

The resident, who identified herself in the email as "Marie X," said she also is concerned with city employees whose voice mail greetings say "have a blessed day."

She said she thinks the city is running afoul of the Constitution.

Fire Chief Buddy Martinette then apologized for the situation via email and thanked the concerned citizen for bringing it to the city's attention. He said Grafius wasn't aware that that type of message was against the city's policy.


-- Patrick Gannon