Jail time for praying — inside one's home?
That may sound incredible, but that's what devout Catholic and former nurse Mary Anne Sause was threatened with when police officers from Louisburg, Kansas Police Department barged into her home about three years ago.
Now, Sause is bringing a federal case against the responsible police officers, CBN News reports.
She recalled that one September night in 2013, police pounded on her door and demanded entry. After letting them in her house, the officers started harassing and taunting her without saying what they were doing and why they were there in the first place.
When Sause pulled out a copy of the constitution to remind the officers of her rights, one of the cops reportedly told her it was "just a piece of paper," which "doesn't work here."
The officers then told her to prepare to go to jail.
The terrified woman asked them if she could pray before they arrest her. After being told she could, she knelt in silent prayer. But then one of the officers ordered her to stop praying, or else face jail time.
Later, the cops told her they were there because of a minor noise complaint from a neighbour that her radio was too loud.
Sause reported the incident to the police and filed a federal case with assistance from First Liberty Institute.
"The police are supposed to make you feel safe, but I was terrified that night. It was one of the worst nights of my life," Sause said.
First Liberty lawyers say the police action was repulsive. "No American should ever be told that they cannot pray in their own home," says Stephanie Taub, Associate Counsel for First Liberty Institute. "The right to pray in the privacy of one's own home is clearly protected by the First Amendment."
First Liberty Institute is urging the Tenth Circuit Court to review the case to ensure that incidents like this do not happen again.
