Ash Wednesday observance subject of objection
By KEN BLACK, TIMES-REPUBLICANThe age-old question of separation of church and state played itself out in a Marshall County courtroom Wednesday.
After a lunch recess while prosecuting a trial for attempted murder, Assistant County Attorney Paul Crawford returned from lunch with ash on his forehead. He is Catholic and celebrating Ash Wednesday is something millions of people all around the world do.
Before the jury was brought back into the courtroom, Aaron Hawbaker, the attorney for the defense, objected to the ash being on Crawford's forehead.
"He is representing the state of Iowa," Hawbaker said.
Hawbaker said he was not objecting for any personal or religious reasons, but feared the jury could be influenced either for or against the prosecution's case by the display.
"I tend to agree with that, Mr. Crawford," said Judge Michael Moon. "I tend to think it should be removed."
The issue is one that has a great deal of uncertainty and gray area, according to Rob Boston, a spokesperson for Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
"The judge would have the power to ask the prosecutor to remove the ash, but whether the prosecutor would be compelled to do so is another question," Boston said.
There are cases where overt religious references could be seen as an attempt to sway a jury and be the basis for an appeal or mistrial, Boston said. However, he was unsure if this situation would qualify.
"There are ways religion can influence the legal process and judges need to be sensitive," Boston added.
Crawford complied with the judge's request.
"I understand his position and his request was made out of an abundance of caution," Crawford said. "I can live with it."
Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church, meaning participation is not required, according to americancatholic.org. The ash is typically applied on the forehead in the shape of a cross as a sign of repentance.
It signifies the beginning of Lent and is 40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays.
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Contact Ken Black at 641-753-6611 or kblack@timesrepublican.com
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mtownwatcher
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02-18-10 7:12 PM
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Gradstudent, so you dislike the writer so much that nothing he writes is going to make you happy? And you are one of these calm rational people you claim don't exist in Marshalltown? No matter what the writer's motivation, it still gives a good message about Iowa AND Marshalltown.
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Lucylu
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02-18-10 6:23 PM
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To set the record straight, Catholics are not the only Christians which observe Ash Wednesday. I am proud of Mr. Crawford for removing it. I would not have been so congenial. I wonder if the Assistant County Attorney were a Muslim woman with a scarf, would the defense Attorney make her take it off because it might influence the legal process?
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jefffro
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02-18-10 5:41 PM
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The was a question of how this might impact the case and it was dealt with......done.
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morsecoderain
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02-18-10 2:07 PM
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I have to agree with mtownwatcher. The reactions and decisions by everyone involved were very sensible and practical. I think it does paint Marshall County in a very good light to have calm rational people around.
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Butler
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02-18-10 11:52 AM
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You are right Grad the only reason Black brought this up was to show how oppressed Christians are in this country or in this case Catholics. To bad you can’t see through the dodge watcher.
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mtownwatcher
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02-18-10 9:44 AM
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On the contrary, grad, this article shows how practical and sensible Iowans can be on an issue that is oftentimes supercharged. I'm glad the TR wrote it and it should be a model for the rest of the nation to follow. Good job Ken!
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