Prayer At Public Meetings Lawsuits Continue Across The Country
Source: Huffington Post
Prayer At Public Meetings Lawsuits Continue Across The Country
By JESSICA GRESKO 11/21/12 02:50 PM ET EST
WASHINGTON It happens every week at meetings in towns, counties and cities nationwide. A lawmaker or religious leader leads a prayer before officials begin the business of zoning changes, contract approvals and trash pickup.
But citizens are increasingly taking issue with these prayers, some of which have been in place for decades. At least five lawsuits around the country in California, Florida, Missouri, New York, and Tennessee are actively challenging pre-meeting prayers.
Lawyers on both sides say there is a new complaint almost weekly, though they don't always end up in court. When they do, it seems even courts are struggling to draw the line over the acceptable ways to pray. Some lawyers and lawmakers believe it's only a matter of time before the Supreme Court will weigh in to resolve the differences. The court has previously declined to take on the issue, but lawyers in a New York case plan to ask the justices in December to revisit it. And even if the court doesn't take that particular case, it could accept a similar one in the future.
Lawmakers who defend the prayers cite the nation's founders and say they're following a long tradition of prayer before public meetings. They say residents don't have to participate and having a prayer adds solemnity to meetings and serves as a reminder to do good work.
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/21/prayer-at-public-meetings-fight_n_2171691.html
GoneOffShore
(17,339 posts)There is no need to use prayer to 'add(s) solemnity to meetings and serve(s) as a reminder to do good work'.
DainBramaged
(39,191 posts)csziggy
(34,136 posts)I won't object to prayer at public meetings.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Time for it to go. Want to pray at your meeting? Have it in a church, unrelated to the business of Government.
AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)They're gonna do BAD work if someone doesn't pray?????
Come in early and pray. But spend OUR time on OUR business.
AnotherMcIntosh
(11,064 posts)Ezlivin
(8,153 posts)To that oft-heard response it's good to reply that just because they got away with abusing the Constitutional rights of others doesn't mean they can continue.
There are countless small towns where their insularity and homogeneity allowed them to start sessions with a Christian prayer and not fear complaints. Now that demographics are shifting many of these towns are no longer as "pure" in their ideological framework.
yorgatron
(2,289 posts)they'll shut that down in a hurry.
Overseas
(12,121 posts)Tyrs WolfDaemon
(2,289 posts)That way they are offering a prayer to Thor to protect them without even having to say anything!
If they want to be fancy, I'm sure we could find them ones that have sound effects for each time they use it.
The way I see it, the Repubs and the Evil Ice Giants are fairly interchangeable and since you can deal with the evil Jotunn with Thor's Hammer, the same should be true of Repubs.
There is even a version* that will open your favorite brew
* Wolf-Daemon approved
CANDO
(2,068 posts)That's some good brew right there! Pottsville, PA
bread_and_roses
(6,335 posts)Wolf Frankula
(3,601 posts)"Allfather Odin, Look down upon us tonight and give us wisdom..." or "Iuppiter Omnipotens, Grant us the strength to do what we must do.." or any non-monotheistic prayer.
Wolf
forestpath
(3,102 posts)sarcasmo
(23,968 posts)mrmpa
(4,033 posts)here in PA. I attended a township meeting that began with a prayer, and I was disgusted. Never did hear from the ACLU.
former9thward
(32,016 posts)Both the House and Senate open their sessions with a prayer. Congress employs full time religious personnel. If that is Constitutional (and the U.S. Supreme Court hasn't said it isn't for 223 years and counting) then any local prayers will have no problem.
Bandit
(21,475 posts)I think the supreme Court has already ruled that can not happen.. I see very little difference between the two...
former9thward
(32,016 posts)The SC has said prayer in school cases are different because students are not adults and can be more susceptible to being led into a particular religion.
humblebum
(5,881 posts)a chaplain any lesser body should continue also. Disallowing any prayer that is voluntary and not coerced violates not only the free exercise clause but freedom of speech also.
Paulie
(8,462 posts)There is no right to exercise religion in a government context. The constitution is clear there, as it is codified in the negative.
What's wrong with being neutral and respecting all by not doing this on government time?
humblebum
(5,881 posts)Last edited Fri Nov 23, 2012, 12:42 PM - Edit history (1)
to the term "free" stated in the Constitution.
Government is prohibited from requiring prayer, and government is prohibited from interfering with prayer.