Events Calendar
In This Section
New eateries expand menu of options
Patrick McManamon: Here's what the Browns should try the rest of the season
Day with Warren Buffett enriching to UA students
WISDOM FROM BILLIONAIRE WARREN BUFFETT
Wadsworth group plans vet tribute
Judge sentences four in nursing home case
FedEx says IRS won't be imposing penalties
U.S. Walmarts to stay open Thanksgiving
Most Read Stories
Suitcase causes bomb scare at Akron bus terminal
Akron City Council OKs higher speed on I-77
Chapel Hill isn't rolling right along
Motorcyclist killed, wife injured in Stark County crash
New eateries expand menu of options
Man says he was punched, robbed by 3 people in parking lot
Patrick McManamon: Here's what the Browns should try the rest of the season
Louisville athlete commits to play for Boston College
Family found dead in Ohio home
Blogs:
Pets:
It Takes All Kinds
The Heldenfiles:
Tuesday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
An interesting thought from a reader
Akron Zips:
Akron vs. Mount Union — Liveblog
Tribe Matters:
Indians announce spring dates
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini doesn't name a quarterback
Kent State Sports:
Flashes interested in another Cincinnati player
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Shaq: It’s All About Winning Championships
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes Roll 100-60 / Season Outlook
Varsity Letters:
Report: Walsh baseball player commits
All Da King's Men:
More On The Fort Hood Jihadist
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Simply Incapable of Telling The Truth
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (63) Commonwealth Fund Report on Primary Care
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
Aeromsith looking for new singer as Steven Tyler contemplates solo career
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
Video: 'Modern Warfare 2' hits the streets
Washington group threatens to file suit over longtime practice
By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Tuesday, Oct 16, 2007
Monday was judgment day for Akron City Council's practice of reciting the Lord's Prayer before meetings.
Facing the threat of a potentially costly lawsuit, council members said the prayer for the last time.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington, D.C., group, recently sent a letter to council threatening to sue unless the prayer was silenced.
Council members met in executive session for about an hour Monday night to discuss the issue. Council President Marco Sommerville said they felt they didn't have a choice.
''There was no sense in putting the city in harm's way,'' he said.
The recitation of the prayer has been a long-standing tradition for council one that most members didn't want to cease.
In a Sept. 28 letter to council, Americans United said ''prayers are permissible only insofar as they are nonsectarian in other words, only if they do not use language or symbols specific to one religion.''
The group said prayers read by government bodies ''containing sectarian rather than ecumenical and inclusive language have repeatedly been held to be unconstitutional.''
The group urged council to cease its practice or to ''ensure that the prayers are nonsectarian.''
''By failing to do so, the council would risk subjecting the city to costly litigation,'' the group wrote, asking for a reply within 30 days.
Council members consid ered having a different prayer every week to try to accommodate various faiths. Sommerville said they decided that would be too complicated.
''We tried to come to a consensus that makes sense,'' he said. ''There's no need for litigation that we know we will lose.''
Sommerville said most council members plan to say the Lord's Prayer together privately before their meetings. They also might develop an ecumenical prayer for council that can be recited.
For now, though, council meetings will begin with just the Pledge of Allegiance.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.
Monday was judgment day for Akron City Council's practice of reciting the Lord's Prayer before meetings.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
