Atheist Group Files Federal Suit Against City for Opening Meetings in Prayer (429 hits)
The Atheists of Florida filed a federal lawsuit Monday against the City of Lakeland for opening commission meetings in prayer.
The lawsuit alleges that the commission's purpose in its policy is "to encourage, endorse and add Defendants' governmental imprimatur to religion in general and a specific religion."
According to the suit, the city's policy violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment.
The group has also voiced general complaints (outside the lawsuit) about the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance at the meetings with the words "under God" included. However, several federal courts around the country have found the phrase constitutional.
The 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, which includes Florida, has ruled on invocations at government meetings, stipulating that governments must make a "reasonable effort to include all religious faiths."
Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields was not caught off-guard by the suit.
"It's not a surprise," he said. "It's what they said they were going to do. It was just a question of when and what city."
FOR MORE INFORMATION Read the entire lawsuit, Atheists of Florida v. City of Lakeland.
(NOTE: Referral to websites not produced by CitizenLink is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the sites' content.)
I understand your stance on religious equality but I don't see how opening a meeting with a prayer of good will is depriving anyone of their equality. It appears to me that the Atheists who don't believe in God at all want to impose their beliefs on the rest of the people who believe in the existence of God. It sounds like the Atheist are being selfish.
Thursday, July 15th 2010 at 2:45AM
Jen Fad
Sister Irma, When I think of prayer, I generally have thoughts of goodwill for men everywhere. I've never heard anyone regardless of religious affiliation say a prayer that wasn't.
Of course if I were the pastor, iman, rabbi, etc... I would allow someone to pray for me. As a nurse, I've never refused to allow someone to pray for me because of their religious affiliation based on the premise that I believe prayer is good.
Was there not prayer to open up the Inauguration of President Obama? As I recall not only did Christians attend, but Muslims, Buhddists, Seiks, Natives, Atheists, etc... and this was in the heart of D.C.
There is a difference between allowing prayer in a denomination to be given by someone with opposing religious views and opening a meeting with a prayer of goodwill.
Thursday, July 15th 2010 at 8:43AM
Jen Fad
This country was founded on freedom FROM religion; so the Atheists are upholding the constitution. Irma is right in her initial response (I can't believe I just typed that) Christians ALWAYS impose their beliefs on others and suggest that "their" belief is the true one.
It's not about who's right and who's wrong. No one's nailed it yet. They're all too self-righteous to even consider being wrong. But to "insist" on their prayer being said publicly is just selfish at its peak. Their hearts are in the right place but their brains gotta wake up.
Atheists make up 16% of this country now. That's a much larger percentage of Blacks. What if Blacks were subject to recitals of the Aryan Nation's theme song at every turn? And we're only 12.5% of the population.
Thursday, July 15th 2010 at 10:10AM
Craig Amos
@ Rev Father Craig,
I beg to differ with you and Sister Irma. Prayer in and of itself is not selfish. If people who don't want to hear the name of God mentioned then I say come up with an alternative name rather than force and impose their 16% (views) on the other 84%.
Thursday, July 15th 2010 at 10:42AM
Jen Fad
I think its best at this point for me to agree to respectfully disagree. I see things differently and there is nothing wrong with public or private prayers of goodwill, but keep the dialogue coming since its good to discuss.
Thursday, July 15th 2010 at 10:58AM
Jen Fad
Jen, you know me and my belief in EQUALITY...AND, BECAUSE I believe that no one should settel for lest than EQUAL RIGHTS ALLOWED UNDER THE CONSTITUTION...EXAMPLE,
If these people would say give at one meeting the Christian pray...next meeting the Jewish prayer...mormon, jehvohaWitness...Buddhist...The ones that Witches say...and so on and so on then this would be allowing CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS LIKE FREEDOAMS OF : SPEECH, RELIGIONS, ASSEMBLY, ECT...
SO HOW IS FOLLOWING THE CONSTITUTION THE PROBLEM OR CAN IT BE SOMETHING OVER RIDING THIS LIKE THE BELIEF TAHT different is deficient, PREJUDICE, SELFISHNESS OR JUST PLAIN OLD EVERY mine is the correct and the only right one American social norm?!? (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
JEN SINCE YOU AGREE WITH ME ABOUT PRAYER , please do me a favor...ask father the next if pray represents all tha tis good will he allow my religious practice to open his mass with my prayer...then jen we will get back to tis matter of prayer and its menaing as youjust stated?
Jen will you be accepting if the word buddah or Jehovia be put in your meetings or in your home and will you een say a muslim prayer or a buddhist prayer or one thet is said by and Atheist...and you really don't have to get back to this one if you don't care to do so...My purpose in life is to try and teach the truth and to do unto others as "I" want them to do to me...and this is why I try so hard to get people to think and really think about are they lying to themselves...
Jen, I don't lie to myself and this is way "I" just asked a few questions for you to check if you are lying to your ownself if any of the questions I asked you gets a no from you. But this is not on me...(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
The Atheist are not against prayer nor are they against religion...the Atheist are jus tlikeme, religion teaches hate and discrimination, example,
Jen you just agreeded with th eAtheist 110% and with out knowing this which makes this is coming ot or PREJUDICE, PREJUCIDE MEANS PREJUDGING...
AND, "I" SAID THIS TO SAY THE aTHEIST ARE NOT AGAINST THE USE OF G-O-D IT IS BECAUSE USING G-O-D YOU DISCRIMINAT AGAINST EVERYONE WO DOES NOT BELIEVE IN god THE WAY YOU DO...ANOTHE EXAMPLE,
WHY IS THE RELIGIONOF TH EMUSLIMS CONSIDERED NOT THE CORRECT RELIGION AFTERALL THEY USE THE WORD G-O-D, BUT THEN DISCRIMINATION AND PREJUDICE SITS IN TO OVER RIDE THEY PRAY FOR PEACE, THEY PRAY TO GO BE WITH THEIR GOD...BUT THEY ARE TERRORIST BUT TH EKKK INS NOT!!!!...
WHICH THIS MAKES IT RIGHT BACK IN THAT CIRCLE...IT IS NOT PRAYER SOULD NOT BE IN SCHOOL IT IS IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO NOT ALLOW ANY RELIGIOUS PRAY NTO TO BE IN TAHT SCHOOL IF IT IS NOT A cHRISTAIN PRAYER...
YOU KNOW THE CHRISTIAN NATION WHERE THERE IS FREEDOM OF RELIGION AS LONG AS YOU REMAIN RESTRICT TO "THE CHRISTIAN NATION'S BY LINE...ONLY G-O-D'S NAME IS ALLOWED IN THE CLASS ROOMS AS THEY DO NOT OFFER PECE AND UNITY AND MAINLY IT IS TH ESRONG GOD IF A mUSLIM SAYS IT...THEY AE TERRORIST BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGHT OFF AN INVASION THAT IS BEING WAGED BY THE CORRECT GOD'S BACKINGS OR AS SEEN ON AMRIAN TV AND i AM SURE IS SAID IN CHURCH ON sunday AND AFTER THEY GET RID OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS TO SUIT THERI DAILY LIVES / PERSONAL BEHAVIORS AT THAT TIME. (SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Craig when it comes to the topic of "R-E-L-I-G-I-O-N" AS as socially accepted practice to give a pass to abuse, maim and kill peoplewe ae on the same page...
where we differ is "i" don't believe that A-l-l people abuse their religion...and "i" never accept the A-l-l because "I" don't believe in absolute..."I" do know that although some in the N.D buddhist as "I" am one calls it a religion, "I" cose not to do so and for the same reason as this word represents an excuse to abuse and demean others...
"I" do know that Jen has not answered my question, and the more she throws out every thing but the kitchen sink...what Jen is doing is subjective aka using religion to remain in the state of 'enlightment' ...the more "I" am content (objectively)that she is only able to say what she says about the ATHEISTS is because she knows nothing aout them and she would never say any prayer but a Christian prayer for the same reason...she knows nothing about them at all, end of story. (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Hey Jen was any prayer said there by the pastor Mr. Obama had chosen for 25 years a contribute saving his life...why was this, Jen it would have been a Christian prayer if side my rev. J.R.
You see I saw these words coming from his own mouth..." I left my church to protect my friends and members of the church so they can lay in theri hospital beds in peace and they can not be in fear of loosing theri jobs because of the harrasment of the media...but Jen, I am sure you have accepted a totally different version than our president's now haven't you...NOW ABOUT THIS PRAYER OF PEACE AND GOOD WILL OVER THE BEING OVER RUN BY SUBJECTIVE NEEDS TO BE PREJUDICE ALONG WITH HATERED FOR PEOPLE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ONLY heard about and put you values on them...
remembe our two wars now in progress in being done according to thi christain antion with the blessings of the same god that says thou shall not kill!!!!!! (NUP)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
JEN WHAT YOU JUST SAID IS WHY "I" CONTINUE TO SAY EDUCATION IS GOING TO SAVE MANKIND FROM THEMSELVES...AND WHY "I" ACCEPT TIS PRAYER IN SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE JUDGED 'RIGHT' OR 'WRONG' IN AMERICA THE SAME WAY AS THE DEATH PENDTALY...
EACH GENERATIONS WILL CHANG OUR SOCIETY ...AND JEN FOR ME AND TO ME, YOUR RESPECTFULLY AGREING TO DISAGREEE IS GOING TO BE THE ONLY THING TO END MANKIND KILLING AND DISTROYING THEMSLEVES IN WAR...
SO JEN ALWAYS BE PROUD TO BE ABLE TO DO TIS AND PLEASE, PLEASE, PLLEASE CONTINUE TO SHOW HOW RIGHT, AND OW GOD LIKE OR NOT GOD LIKE WE ALL SHOULD BE AND BY WAY OF R-E-S-P-E-C-T. "I" MUCH LOVE & RESPECT FOR YOUR WOMAN POWERS. LOL (SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
JEN ON A PERSONAL "I" DO RELATE TIS PRAYER MATTER TO HAVING LIVED IN A WHITE ONLY, BLACK ONLY AMERICA AND THINGS LIKE TIS CAUSES ME TO KNOW FOR PERSOANL THE HURT, AND DISTRUCTION ON A SOCIETY THAT ANY EXCUSE TO DISCRIMINATE AND BE SHOWN IN RELIGION TAHT THISIS RIGHT AND CORRECT "I" CAN NOT ACCEPT INTOMY DAILY LIFE...
"I" DO MY I LIKE TAHT TO SOW THAT "I" TAKE OWNERSHIP OF MY WORDS AND ONLY I AM THE ONE HOW CAN BE PRAISED OR PUNISHED FOR IT (NOT G-O-D) AS SOME DO,,,ME AND ONLY ME IS THE ONE WHO MADE THAT CAUSE AND ONLY I CAN EXPERIENCE THE EFFECT THA T"I" HAVE MADE IN MY LIFE, THELIVES OF OTHERS AND MY ENVIRONMENT. (SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
...SO SORRY WHEN "I" SAY WHITE ONLY, BLACK ONLY I MEAN PREJUDICE AS IN IGNORANCE THAT WE SETTL FOR PREJUDIGING AND PUTTING OUR PRESONAL ON OTHERE AND WITH OUT EVEN KNOWING THEM...OR RELIGION BEING THE SKIN COLOR THAT MAKES THIS SOCIAL ORDERS THE SOCIAL NORM BOTH LEGAL AND MORAL IN A cHRISTIAN NATION OF FREEDOMS WE ONLY TALK ABOUT BUT OBEY AS MUCH AS WE DO THE 10 cOMMANDMENTS AND TRUTH AND TIS COUNTRY LOVES IT MUSLIMS, JEWS, BUDDHIST, ECT !!!!. (SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
