Sunday, April 21, 2013

Penn. City Calls Atheists' Threats Stupid & Crazy

The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) wrote a letter to Greenville, PA officials saying that opening monthly City Council meetings with prayers is unconstitutional and must stop.  In response, at a recent public meeting, the City formally decided to simply ignore the implied threat by atheists' to bring a lawsuit.

For background, click headlines below for previous articles:

Prayers in Government Meetings OK, Says San Francisco Court

Atheist Organization Swamped Suing to Stop Prayer

Atheists Misrepresent U.S. Constitution re: Prayer

Wisconsin Atheists Want Prayer Stopped in Tennessee

Ignore Atheists and Pray, Says Roanoke County, VA

Prayer Returns to Texas Town, Ignoring Atheists

Prayer at Florida County Meetings Will Continue

Washington City Continues to Pray Despite Atheist Lawsuit Threat

Atheists' Prayer Threat Rejected by South Carolina Municipalities

Ohio Town Will Continue Praying

Wisconsin County Yields Prayer to Atheist Threat

-- From "Prayer before Greenville Council meeting called 'unconstitutional'" by Danielle Cotterman, Reporter, WFMJ-TV21 (Youngstown, OH) 4/15/13

According to the [FFRF] letter, "a local complaint brought this matter to their attention."

The complaint stated, "[the] prayers often use phrases such as 'in Jesus' name,' rendering them indisputably Christian."

Greenville Council President Brian Shipley argues that each month a different denominational leader in the Greenville area offers the prayer.

"We don't have a Synagogue, we don't have a Mosque in Greenville," Shipley said. "It's not that they wouldn't be welcome, it's just that they do not exist in the Greenville area, or they would be invited to participate as well."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Prayer meeting -- Council rejects petition to end invocation" by Tom Davidson Herald Staff Writer 4/15/13

The prayers will continue, [Shipley] said.

“I am perfectly OK with prayer at meetings,” Councilman Anthony D’Alfonso said. “I think it’s a long-standing tradition that should be honored.”

Councilman Ted Jones called the complaint “pretty crazy.”

“I think it’s pretty stupid,” Jones said. “I don’t think we should do anything.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Prayer in America: Hidden Faith, or Public?