Written by Don Byrd
Saying they expect to file suit soon, the Freedom From Religion Foundation claims the City of Memphis, Tennessee is one of the country’s biggest church-state offenders for their longstanding tradition of opening meetings with prayer.
“Exclusively Christian prayers, goody bags to the ministers, giving them all kinds of attention at the meetings, turning it into kind of religious ritual,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor with the Freedom from Religion Foundation.
The Foundation believes some people are made to think they must pray also, or council won’t consider their requests.
Council Member Myron Lowery disagrees, “That has no effect at all on any of the decision we make or the deliberations we make. We accept things based on their merit.
Lowery says he thinks the Memphis City Council is a target, because it’s been doing it for so long.
He also says members promote diversity through the prayers and invite priests, rabbis and Islamic leaders to take part.
Inviting clergy from many faiths is a good step, but that may not save the policy if the prayers are all sectarian invocations. I suppose it’s asking to much to suggest the Council members pray on their own prior to the meeting and leave the official proceedings for city business. A policy and practice of inclusive prayers offered by diverse members of the community would be a positive as well.
