Americans United Asks Federal Court To Bar Sectarian Prayer At Maryland Town Council’s Meetings

[Adsos Letter]

Source:
AU "Press Release"
Feb 26, 2013

By reciting a Christian prayer to open its meetings, the Brentwood, Md., Town Council has aligned itself with a single religion in violation of the U.S. Constitution, Americans United for Separation of Church and State has told a federal court.

In a lawsuit filed today on behalf of two residents of the community, Americans United said the council’s practice of beginning its sessions with the Lord’s Prayer transgresses the First Amendment.

“Government meetings should be welcoming to all residents, not merely to those who share the faith of their elected officials,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “In favoring one religious tradition over others, the town council is acting in an unfair as well as unconstitutional manner.”

According to the AU complaint, Brentwood Mayor Roger Rudder usually opens council sessions by leading a recitation of the Christian devotion. Council members rise, clasp their hands and bow their heads during the prayer. Those in the audience are asked to stand and join in. (emphasis added)
https://www.au.org/media/press-releases/americans-united-asks-federal-court-to-bar-sectarian-prayer-at-maryland-town

Asking the audience to stand and participate really doubles down on the transgression here, imo. Audience members are faced with the choice of standing and joining in (even if they don't really want to) or refusing to join in (even if they believe in the efficacy of the Lord's Prayer) out of principle, or for any other reason, making them vulnerable to a scrutiny they shouldn't have to face, as Barry Lynn indicated.

[Thats my opinion]

1. Americans United is correct

This is over the Constitutional line.

[cbayer]

2. Good one. This should be an easy win for AU.

[cleanhippie]

3. If more moderate believers would take a stand against such practices where it is happening...

We would see less and less of it.


While there are some who do, it seems many actually push back against the secular groups trying to end such practices.

Why?

[Adsos Letter]

4. I'm only guessing

but I suspect that, rightly or wrongly, there is a fear that secular groups would also like to restrict personal religious freedom. This is a misconception, in my opinion, and I think it probably stems from the influence of the conservative fear mongers. Those same fear mongers have demonized secular groups like the ACLU for years, as potential enemies of liberty, including religious liberty.

Very odd, when you examine their actual record.

That's my sense of the matter.

Edit: What I've described is generally more a function of conservative Christianity; I suspect it may also be true of some moderates, but I don't know to what degree.

[struggle4progress]

5. "... Two residents, one a Catholic, the other a Buddhist, filed suit in U.S. District Court

in Greenbelt on Tuesday challenging the town’s practice ..."
Brentwood residents challenge town for opening council meetings with Christian prayer
By Miranda S. Spivack, Published: February 26

[Nye Bevan]

6. Doesn't Congress open with a prayer?

Has anyone ever sued over that?

[Adsos Letter]

7. Is it The Lord's Prayer, or another distinctly Christian prayer>

[Thats my opinion]

8. In 1966 ,

as President of the Washington Area Council of Churches ,I opened Congress with prayer. At that time I had not considered the implications.

Years later, as a member of a city council, I refused to, and held that no one should. So we had a moment of silence instead.