Atheist-agnostic group amps up pressure on Draper over Christian concert

[rug]

Peggy Fletcher Stack
Published on Jul 20, 2012 04:48PM

A Wisconsin-based atheist and agnostic organization has jumped into the debate over a Christian concert planned for next week in Draper.

A lawyer with the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to Draper Mayor Darrell Smith on Friday urging him to "cease using Draper City resources and taxpayer funds to plan, organize and promote a religious concert."

The foundation promotes separation of church and state and its membership consists of "atheists, agnostics and skeptics," according to its website.

Attorney Andrew Seidel didn't threaten any legal action in the letter but requested "a response in writing about what steps you are taking to ensure constitutional dictates are being followed." The letter also asks that the Mayor's Office disassociate itself from "hosting, organizing or otherwise coordinating religious events in the future."

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsfaithblog/54529821-180/draper-concert-letter-christian.html.csp

If it's important enough, they should sue. I doubt they will.

[dimbear]

1. Seriously, Utahns, doesn't it rankle a little having outofstaters interfere in your business?

You are going your own way, trying to give a sagging concert a hand up, and then out of the pagan north comes this. It's irritating when others think they can tell you what to do.

You wouldn't pull that crap, would you?!!

[rug]

2. I'm sure they can survive a stern letter from FFRF.

[cbayer]

3. It's a loan, right? I don't know much about this, but I wonder if they have some

sort of process where groups can apply for loans to set up something like this, with the understanding that it will be paid back after ticket sales.

If they do, and it is open to anyone, then I don't have a problem with this. But it does make me uncomfortable if it is being given only to this group.

[struggle4progress]

4. City-owned amphitheater often holds events requiring ticket purchase

It might be common for the city to front some money for such events

... Draper put $21,500 toward the concert, expecting to recoup those funds through ticket sales.
Atheist-agnostic group amps up pressure on Draper over Christian concert
Published on Jul 20, 2012 04:48PM
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsfaithblog/54529821-180/draper-concert-letter-christian.html.csp

But the amphitheater website suggests Draper is trying to distance itself from Smith concert

... Michael W. Smith - Tuesday July 24, 2012
7:30pm
Please note this is not a city-sponsored event.
The event is sponsored by the Warrior Worship Project ...
http://www.draper.ut.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={6E9C52DC-BA3B-4A85-9397-86AEAB54CE99}

And then there's this:

The Draper City Council decided in the closed-door portion of its meeting Tuesday night to scrap a concert by popular Christian artist Michael W. Smith, who was scheduled to perform July 24 at the Draper Amphitheater, said city spokeswoman Maridene Hancock. She said the decision came after a resident threatened to sue the city over the event. "The city," Hancock said, "just felt like they didn’t want to use money to fight a potential lawsuit <with> taxpayer funds."
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsburger/54513048-53/draper-concert-christian-council.html.csp
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54512569-78/draper-concert-johnson-venue.html.csp

... The council then reversed itself Wednesday, reinstating the performance. "As we thought about it and analyzed it, we don’t feel like we’re promoting a religion," Councilman Troy Walker said Wednesday. "We feel like we’re putting on a performance like we do every summer" ...
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsfaithblog/54529821-180/draper-concert-letter-christian.html.csp

I can't decide what I should think the legal status of this oughta be: it might depend on the actual sequence-of-events