tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247899948019262860.post6241425241453326232..comments2023-09-09T10:29:29.789-05:00Comments on The Green Room: Praying Over Sewers, Liquor Licenses and VariancesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709842445396738547noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247899948019262860.post-39912946680787709542010-02-19T18:00:01.988-06:002010-02-19T18:00:01.988-06:00I agree with your post. I don't know where exa...I agree with your post. I don't know where exactly the Founding Fathers or the U.S. Constitution would come down on this, but I think that town councils should refrain from prayer, as town councils are political bodies with real constituencies and such prayer might alienate or offend non-believers. By the way, Jon Meacham wrote a book on the separation of church and state that looks pretty interesting. It is called "American Gospel". You might want to check it out.L https://www.blogger.com/profile/04903967140464360127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247899948019262860.post-72231106295759116892010-02-18T20:53:03.153-06:002010-02-18T20:53:03.153-06:00That business about having the prayer "before...That business about having the prayer "before the mayor officially bangs the gavel" is a bit disingenuous, n'est-ce pas? Merely shifting the time that the gavel is pounded changes nothing. It's still putting religion into city business, which is unconstitutional.KMRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10257999141454710815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247899948019262860.post-54760293833444636002010-02-18T13:49:13.491-06:002010-02-18T13:49:13.491-06:00Boy--Agreed, but I guess technically, before the g...Boy--Agreed, but I guess technically, before the gavel makes it not officially city business, which is why they can keep on doing it.<br /><br />And as far as your prayer for an honest, just, and efficient government: Don't hold your breath, but don't stop praying.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17709842445396738547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247899948019262860.post-11573739947630745052010-02-17T20:00:41.385-06:002010-02-17T20:00:41.385-06:00@Boy G - If your prayer were answered, so would Je...@Boy G - If your prayer were answered, so would Jenn's.Kevinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247899948019262860.post-36777816491171611662010-02-17T17:32:18.915-06:002010-02-17T17:32:18.915-06:00Not only do I think that there "is no need fo...Not only do I think that there "is no need for the believers on the city council of Wheaton to insist on their legal right to pray at the meeting, whether before or after the gavel," I think prayer as part of the meeting, or practiced by elected/appointed officials <i>in their capacity as such</i>, is unconstitutional. It has been held by courts that prayers would be government establishment of religion. It is entirely acceptable for anyone to pray for whatever they want, whenever they want, on their own time. But under federal and state law, it is not acceptable to include prayer as part of government business.<br /><br />And on the subject of what to pray for, my #1 item is an honest, just, and efficient government. I'm not holding my breath.KMRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10257999141454710815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247899948019262860.post-84558588056638659722010-02-17T11:21:35.625-06:002010-02-17T11:21:35.625-06:00Why thank you, Jenn.Why thank you, Jenn.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17709842445396738547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247899948019262860.post-82658754113919952922010-02-17T09:43:09.183-06:002010-02-17T09:43:09.183-06:00I applaud your well thought out post. It doesn...I applaud your well thought out post. It doesn't make the town council less Christian if they do not pray before each meeting. Will they respect the Lord less because they pray individually at a non preset time of day? I think this has more to do with the battle of wills than any religious ideology.<br /><br />Although I'd have to say I would be all in favor of a pray for lower taxes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com