High court ruling favors prayer at council meeting

WASHINGTON (AP) — A narrowly divided Supreme Court upheld decidedly Christian prayers at the start of local council meetings on Monday, declaring them in line with long national traditions though the country has grown more religiously diverse. The content of the prayers is not significant as long as they do not denigrate non-Christians or try to win converts, the court said in a 5-4 decision backed by its conservative majority. Though the decision split the court along ideological lines, the Obama administration backed the winning side, the town of Greece, N.Y., outside of Rochester. The outcome relied heavily on a 1983 decision in which the court upheld an opening prayer in the Nebraska Legislature and said prayer is part of the nation’s fabric, not a violation of the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of religion. SOURCE

Well, imagine that. Maybe this will put an end to any more assaults on the FREEDOMS of others by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the various atheists groups that rear their ugly, and very STUPID heads on occasion..

Let me make this point very clear to all that read here: no one can FORCE me to say a prayer, but no one can STOP me from saying one either, any time, any place. I am NOT a bible thumper, but I believe in FREEDOM in general. I also believe in the premise of freedom OF religion and freedom FROM religion too.

Anyone trying to FORCE either on people would be wrong.

Some will say, ‘Oh but Fred, how can you be so cruel as to call the Freedom from Religion Foundation and the various atheists groups ugly and stupid?’

Well, in all honesty, I only call them that because they ARE. They try to force their beliefs off on We, The People when We, The People aren’t forcing anything off on them.

I am merely engaging in that Freedom of Speech that the First Amendment guarantees to me as I express MY opinion on MY blog page.

Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation and various atheists groups from the DFW area made an attempt to force the Rowlett City Council to stop opening our Council meetings with a brief invocation. The FFRF and the Rowlett Atheists claimed that THEIR rights were being violated because the Council held an invocation, not a forced participation type of invocation mind you, just a simple invocation where everyone was invited to stand and to participate, but only IF THEY CHOSE TO DO SO.

These people also claim that the U.S. Constitution declares that there shall be a separation of church and state, and that is supposed to mean that no prayer can be said at ANY meeting of a governmental body.

Of course there is no such wording anywhere in the Constitution, thus another reason for me to look at these people and see STUPID written all over their faces.

The FFRF folks also seem to have a reading comprehension problem as well.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” is about as plainly stated as anything can be. The government can’t make you pray but they can’t stop you from praying either.

Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from religion, free will, all are a part of this nation but no one has a right to FORCE any particular action on others, be it religious or otherwise.

Rowlett, and hundreds of other communities in this great nation have long opened their meetings with a prayer, now maybe the atheists can find a new campaign, it appears that the Supreme Court just slammed the door on their attempt to force their beliefs off on others.