Why Tampa city council invocations are wrong

[John Kieffer]

BACKGROUND: In early January 2010, the Freedom From Religion Foundation lodged a formal complaint with Tampa, Florida, Mayor Pam Iorio requesting that the Tampa city council end its practice of beginning city council meetings with official prayer rituals (aka "invocations"). This letter was reported in several articles and commentaries in Tampa Bay area newspapers. Atheists of Florida supports the FFRF complaint and personally delivered its own letter of complaint to the mayor and the Tampa city council on Tuesday, January 12, 2010.

THE PROBLEM: Atheists only have only two options ...

Atheists who are residents of the city of Tampa who wish to bring some city business to Tampa city council meetings have only two options when confronted with the council's prayer ritual:

1) pretend that they are religious (pray along) and go unnoticed, or
2) not participate (sit through the prayer), be identified as a religious outsider and risk prejudicial, negative treatment* of their business issue by the council.

Beyond the blatant unconstitutionality of the council’s prayer ritual, the issue really drives down to the fact that the atheist does not have any good choices. The atheist is being compelled by government to participate in religious ritual (prayer) simply to participate in her/his government on an equal footing with the rest of her community.

THE SOLUTION: Immediately abolish city council sponsored prayer rituals (invocations)

In the name of fairness and respect for all Tampa citizens, Atheists of Florida requests that the Tampa City Council immediately abolishes government sponsored prayers at public council meetings.

John Kieffer
Chairman of the Board
Atheists of Florida

• I witnessed firsthand the profound disdain and prejudice that some city council members can harbor about atheists: in 2004 one of our members (Michael Harvey) was invited by a council member to give a "secular invocation." Following protests by several council members to stop such an “inappropriate” invocation, half the council (three of the six) stood up and stormed out of council chambers when Michael was asked to commence his reflections.



Rob Curry (president AofF) and me at the Tampa City Council office January 12, 2010, following the delivery of the Atheists of Florida letter to each of the city council members.


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[Charlie]

Where did you get that tie ?

[Steven Devereaux]

Obviously John bought it at the Jesus Christ Estate Sale late last year.... I kid! Lol

On a serious note, this issue of ritual invocations is a disturbing problem. It's a blatant violation of the Constitution as far as I can figure it to be. The Establishment Clause of the first Amendment has been interpreted to mean that the government shall do nothing which would give preference to one religion over any another. Having prayer of any kind at government meetings inherently will favor one interpretation of any given religious doctorine over another. More importantly, as John points out, any kind of prayer alienates those who either don't belive in or practice prayer/religion of any kind. Also, as many others have pointed out in the past, it is beyond the scope and purpose of a secular government meeting to engage in any kind of religious activity whatsoever, regardless of the intent.

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[Charlie]

" ... regardless of the intent. ... "

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And it is the intent that is so annoying. If this were news to someone it could be excusable the first time, but these people know that their mumbo jumbo is upsetting to non-believers at times as well as blasphemous to people of other belief systems. And they know what "Upsetting" is as they seem to become both upset and irrational any time a non-theist speaks out, or heaven forfend, pays for a bill board that they feel is challeng their beliefs.
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So as far as I am concerned ignorance is no excuse. They intend to jam their stupid superstition down everyone else's throat, Constitution and civil courtesy be dammed.

[Rob Curry]

Change is brewing that will make a tremendous difference to the status quo: Bigger than a billboard. Bigger than a court case. Bigger than anyone expects.

The uppity atheists are growing in numbers. They will not sit down and shut up. People will hear, and many will listen. The times will never again be the way they used be.

[John Kieffer]

Our members who showed up to speak Thursday morning* provided a truly magnificent display of honor, integrity and courage:

Honor to uphold a founding principle of our US Constitution ...

Integrity to be recognized as a disdained minority ...

Courage, as that minority, to step forward and speak truth to power.

We may be small in number, but we, not they, stand on the high ground of religious freedom and liberty.



* I also want to acknowledge all (20) who showed up at the previous Thursday evening (Jan 14) to speak against city council prayer but, due to gross misinformation given by a totally incompetent city council spokesperson, were not, due to that meeting protocols, provided the "public comment" opportunity to speak.

Honor, integrity and courage are equally applicable to that Jan 14 group.


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[spamtrap]

If a being such as god actually existed, there would be NO QUESTION in anybody's mind about its existence. There would not be 22 major world religions and a billion or so nonbelievers. It's frightening that this fiction permeates government so much that every president ends every speech with "god bless America."

[John Kieffer]

If a being such as god actually existed, there would be NO QUESTION in anybody's mind about its existence. There would not be 22 major world religions and a billion or so nonbelievers. It's frightening that this fiction permeates government so much that every president ends every speech with "god bless America."

No president closed any of their speeches like this until Reagan. Before that they closed with a conclusion.

Now presidents are scared s***less of offending buy-bull thumping voters so they maintain this propitiative clause.


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