FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 9/14/09) A national atheist and agnostic group says prayers on Memphis government time has gone too far, and it's threatening to sue to stop religious invocations before city council meetings.
Before each meeting, the council invites a local clergyman to give the invocation, but a national group says the "Chaplain of the Day" violates the Constitution. The Freedom From Religion Foundation says it got complaints from someone in Memphis, so the group's lawyer sent a letter to the city council, hoping to end prayers before council meetings. The Wisconsin-based group says Memphis city leaders are defying the Constitution's goal of separation of Church and State.
"What's going on in Memphis is beyond anything we've encountered elsewhere," says Freedom From Religion Foundation's Co-President, Annie Laurie Gaylor. "I don't know what explains it, maybe it's the Bible Belt or maybe it was the practice inaugurated by a mayor, but it's got out of hand."
"I'm not sure they understand any particular concept or belief or faith," says City Council Chairman Harold Collins, who believes the majority of Memphians support prayer before council. "Some of the decisions we have to make, we need to have some sense of inner strength, some sense of faith. Many of us are from a Christian background, therefore we use our faith and the lessons we have learned and been taught to make some decisions."
"That is bogus," says Gaylor. "If you can't make a decision about sewers and liquor licenses without "Divine guidance" then what are you doing on the city council? The city is actively promoting Christianity. It's not only favoring religion over non-religion,which is barred by our Constitution,but one religion over another."
Collins says Christian and Jewish leaders speak at council. For opponents, any religious tone needs to go. Atheists say everything from the city's website, to goodie bags for clergy, is wrong. Collins says he'll respond, in writing, Tuesday. Meantime, the group says instead of prayer, the council should have a moment of silence.
"If they want to pray, fine. But they shouldn't be doing it on government time," says Gaylor, "The Jesus prayers have to stop."
- Freedom From Religion Foundation scrutinizing Memphis city council prayers
- Council invites locla clergy to perform invocation before council meetings
- Athiest groups says invocation violates Church/State
(Memphis 9/14/09) A national atheist and agnostic group says prayers on Memphis government time has gone too far, and it's threatening to sue to stop religious invocations before city council meetings.
Before each meeting, the council invites a local clergyman to give the invocation, but a national group says the "Chaplain of the Day" violates the Constitution. The Freedom From Religion Foundation says it got complaints from someone in Memphis, so the group's lawyer sent a letter to the city council, hoping to end prayers before council meetings. The Wisconsin-based group says Memphis city leaders are defying the Constitution's goal of separation of Church and State.
"What's going on in Memphis is beyond anything we've encountered elsewhere," says Freedom From Religion Foundation's Co-President, Annie Laurie Gaylor. "I don't know what explains it, maybe it's the Bible Belt or maybe it was the practice inaugurated by a mayor, but it's got out of hand."
"I'm not sure they understand any particular concept or belief or faith," says City Council Chairman Harold Collins, who believes the majority of Memphians support prayer before council. "Some of the decisions we have to make, we need to have some sense of inner strength, some sense of faith. Many of us are from a Christian background, therefore we use our faith and the lessons we have learned and been taught to make some decisions."
"That is bogus," says Gaylor. "If you can't make a decision about sewers and liquor licenses without "Divine guidance" then what are you doing on the city council? The city is actively promoting Christianity. It's not only favoring religion over non-religion,which is barred by our Constitution,but one religion over another."
Collins says Christian and Jewish leaders speak at council. For opponents, any religious tone needs to go. Atheists say everything from the city's website, to goodie bags for clergy, is wrong. Collins says he'll respond, in writing, Tuesday. Meantime, the group says instead of prayer, the council should have a moment of silence.
"If they want to pray, fine. But they shouldn't be doing it on government time," says Gaylor, "The Jesus prayers have to stop."
