SCOPUS AND PRAYER

Liberty Village and Budget be gone at least for a day.

Yesterday the Supreme Court by a split 5:4 decision upheld the township of Greece NY’s right to open its meetings with a prayer even if it was sectarian in nature.

I would suggest that you read the Times report in today’s paper  (here.) Read Justice Kennedy’s report for the majority as well as Justice Kagan’s dissenting opinion.

On a lighter but I would also refer you to today’s “Borowitz’s Report.” (here)

As my readers know I have frequently expressed my opinion that the prayer was an unnecessary frill to the meeting, in as much as for this Council it does not seem to be effective in producing worthwhile decisions.

But I have not otherwise objected to a non-sectarian prayer if it makes people feel happier. After all those of us who believe in Monotheistic religion can accept such a prayer to be directed towards our own deity. 

But there are those among us who are agnostic or others whose religion incorporates other gods of various significance.

To make them conform to a prayer that refers to a particular religion by terms such as ‘Jesus” or the “Trinity” or “Allah’ or “Adonai” is not only uncomfortable for those of other faiths but also an infringement on their First Amendment rights.

It is just as true that to prevent a person from expressing his/her's religious belief is also a violation of  the1st Amendment. In the public domain the acid test is if by the prayer the individual is trying to convert or threaten one of a different religion.

The Court Decision did imply that such prayers should be delivered by “clerics of all faiths”.

In Plainfield as in those far right Republican dominated cities, I doubt that is possible.

It is my hope that our Council will respect the feelings of others, and if they must seek divine guidance continue to make it non-sectarian.