Ray Ideus

Ideus, 74, was a Lutheran pastor for 30 years until his spiritual path took a U-turn. He’s now an atheist.

He and his wife, Lorraine, moved to Spokane from Kansas four years ago. Ideus volunteers for the Spokane Police Department eight hours a week, pulling two shifts at the Spokane Transit Authority’s downtown bus plaza.

Ideus is suing the city of Spokane over the badges and crosses worn by police chaplains and the Christian prayers recited at police volunteer ceremonies.

The Police Department’s standards for chaplains, adopted in 1995, state they “must adhere to the Judeo/Christian ethic but be sensitive to other belief systems.”

The issue first arose two years ago when Police Chaplain Ron Alter delivered an invocation and benediction at the department’s volunteer recognition night at City Hall. Ideus was offended.

“I’m a strong believer in the separation of church and state. It’s as much for the church as for the state. I asked them to stop the prayers,” he said.

Instead, the practice continued.

Ideus filed a claim against the city on March 2, 2005, which was denied. Ideus filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in U.S. District Court in January 2006. He is represented by the Center for Justice, a public-interest law firm.

City taxpayers provide chaplain training and uniforms, including a badge with the city’s seal and a Christian/Latin cross, according to Ideus’ lawsuit.

“As a non-Judeo-Christian volunteer police officer, Mr. Ideus is harmed by these policies and actions in that he is subjected to a government enforced religious preference in violation of the First Amendment establishment clause,” his suit contends.

Ideus said he favors a strong chaplaincy program to support police officers, but it should be belief-neutral. He is asking the court to declare the city’s policy unconstitutional and bar the continuing use of prayers and religious insignia. He is also asking for “nominal damages” and reasonable attorneys’ fees.

Assistant City Attorney Rocky Treppiedi countersued Ideus for filing a lawsuit that is “false, and unfounded, malicious and without probable cause.”

Status: Civil rights lawsuit filed in January 2006. Federal trial set for Aug. 13. Settlement talks are active.