Cities stopping prayer before meetings

[Algorem]

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-20/1128794942183342.xml&storylist=cleveland

10/8/2005, 2:04 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

PAINESVILLE, Ohio (AP) — ...Council President Bill Horvath halted the prayers after receiving complaints from people watching the semimonthly meetings on cable television. City Manager Rita McMahon said the viewers complained because a prayer was said "in Jesus' name."...

Experts say Painesville, about 30 miles northeast of Cleveland, is one of an increasing number of municipalities opting for a more non-denominational prayer at the start of meetings or nothing at all, instead of the traditional Christian-based prayer...

"The U.S. Supreme Court in June let stand a 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that barred the town council of Great Falls, S.C., from using Jesus' name in its prayer before the start of its meetings, finding that it favored one religious denomination.

The American Civil Liberties Union also has sent letters to other municipalities in South Carolina asking them to stop mentioning Jesus Christ in prayers before council meetings....
















Praise Bob.

[MountainLaurel]

1. Why I think this is happening

Is that people from other religious traditions: Muslims, Jews, Bahais, pagans, et al., have been insisting that if Jesus is going to get prayed to one week, they want their turn the next. Just like prayer in the schools doesn't apply to Muslims taking a couple minutes at lunch to face Mecca, prayer preceding public meetings was never designed to include anyone but Jeebus.

[Spangle]

5. I agree

But the Christians take it as a personal attack against Christanity. NOT that Christians have been given special treatment.

Christians have always been allowed to gather publicly, celebrate publicly, pray publicly. And they have been able to attack other groups for doing the same thing.

Since the other groups are not allowed, they are finaly saying that Christians shouldn't be allowed either. Must be equal across the board. And I agree with them.

Christians want to do so publicly to spread their faith. They don't want others that same right. They don't want to be exposed to others faiths. Which they consider to be Satanic. Doesn't matter what faith, if it isn't Christian.. then it's automaicly Satanic. Satanic anything must be fought against at all costs.

Since part of being a Christian means that your suppose to spread the faith, they can't relate to these other groups who just WANT to gather as a group together. That those people are not trying to FORCE their faith on others.

When I was part of the "leadership" of a group that use to have prayer. We went to a momment of silence because we had several members object to the Christian Prayer. When the Christians complained, I asked if it would be ok if various members lead the group. When they said yes, I explained that not all members of the group were Christians and where they ready to allow Wiccians and others to lead the prayer. Oh Yea, they objected.

The momment of silence is the only way to do it. The Christians would harrass the non-Christians.

[MADem]

6. I think you are right, and as scared as they are of the

Jews and Muslims, I think they are terrified of the Wiccans and Pagans!!! Silly bastards.

If ya wanna pray, do it on your own time, in your own home, or git yer ass to a house of worship, I say! Don't force uninterested people who simply want to do the government's business to have to listen to that...

I object to the fact that we pay hefty salaries to House and Senate chaplains, who do VERY LITTLE for their paychecks. And clearly, if they are praying to the good Lord to guide those bodies, he ain't listening, so we are not getting our money's worth in any event.

[DavidDvorkin]

2. It's about time, but it's only the first step

There should be no prayers at all at such meetings.

[bread_and_roses]

3. Amen to that!

Last year - or maybe the year before (this is a post-election story and since I work on all of them they tend to run together - anyway...) I walked out of the inauguation ceremony for our Local Dems - many of whose campaigns I'd worked on - because they opened with a religious prayer.

I was furious - once again, wondering why the HELL I was working for Democrats if they had to imitate the Rs at every opportunity? Why was I working to elect Pols who don't even seem to understand the separation of Church and State?

If I want to hear prayer, I'll go to a church.

[Eurobabe]

13. Totally agree

Keep yer religion outta my government!

I respect everyone's right to practice whatever faith they choose. There is some dipshit running for city council and her banner says "Christian Conservative" -- she lost my vote and I don't even know who she is?! But in Mason, OH, it's got to be an Evangelical Repube.

It's icky here.

[MichiganVote]

4. Ok, I understand why people have coffee at meetings but

what's the purpose of having a prayer? What exactly does praying do to help a municipal meeting?

[progressoid]

7. Exactly what I was thinking. What's the point?

[SoCalDem]

8. When city council meetings start being held in church,

Pary pray pray.. As long as they are held in city offices, the prayers should be 86ed.. Unless they want to alternate.. Monday=Buddha, Tuesday=Mohammed, Wednesday=Jesus, Thursday=Krishna, Friday=GreatSpaghettiMonster, Saturday=LRonHubbard, Sunday =(insert god of choice here)

[donsu]

9. 35 or so yrs. ago I went to a Md. County meeting that was opened

with a prayer. out loud I said what about seperation of religion and state and everyone gave me looks as if I was nuts. my own sister gave me dirty looks. (she is still giving me dirty looks :) )

glad to see this being dealt with in Ohio.

[0007]

10. I quit going to the Midland Senior Citizen Center for that very

reason. Prayer & Pledge of Allegiance before the noon meal and a God Bless George Bush afterward.

[Gyre]

11. What would Jeebus do?

Turn his back and walk away (disgusted) is my guess. Sanctimoniousness wasn't his strong suit from what I understand.

[paineinthearse]

12. "Experts say ..."

:wtf: What kind of shabby reporting is this? Who is the source, give us names. And who deemed them to be "experts"?

[manly]

14. oxymoron

there's a good oxymoron: non-denominational prayer! Who are they praying to?