Members of a secular group went before the city council once again today, calling on the governing body abolish its tradition of opening meetings with prayer.
And, for the second time in a row, they were rebuffed.
The nonprofit group Atheists of Florida wants the city to halt the pre-meeting invocations, arguing that council members are violating the Constitution by sanctioning the practice.
As an alternative, the group suggests a "moment of reflection" before council meetings.
"We're not against prayer," Rob Curry, the group's president, told council members at today's meeting. "We're against the entanglement of religion in local government."
Several council members said they have no intention of changing the policy.
"We have been very accommodating...to everyone," said Councilman John Dingfelder.
Members of the group have spoken at the last two council meetings, calling on the city to do away with the invocations. But council members have taken no action on the request.
At today's meeting, Councilwoman Mary Mulhern tried to request a report from City Attorney Chip Fletcher examining the Constitutionality of the weekly invocations.
With several council members absent at the time, Mulhern didn't have enough votes to request the staff report, but she vowed to bring the issue up at another meeting.
"I didn't bring up this issue," she said. "But they deserve to be heard and responded to."
Fletcher told the council that the invocations were "unequivocally" legal, but that he would study the issue would if a majority of the council members requested it.
Curry said his group plans to come to every council meeting until the issue is resolved.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement
Advertisement