Local Florida Politician Says Atheists Can't Deliver Invocation
A local politician in Florida is attempting to prevent an atheist group from saying a prayer at county commission meetings, arguing that because they are not a "faith group," they cannot give the invocation.
The Central Florida Freethought Community has been imploring the Brevard County Board of Commissioners to allow a member of their atheist group to provide the invocation at an upcoming public meeting hosted by the county. The atheist group has pointed to the recent Supreme Court ruling of Greece vs. Galloway as evidence as to why they should be allowed to provide the opening "prayer."
The Supreme Court ruling determined that Christian-themed prayers may be said at city council meetings as long as the selection process for such prayers is nondiscriminatory, and other religious groups would also be allowed to offer invocations.
County Commission Chair Mary Bolin Lewis argues, however , that the group cannot say the invocation because it is not a member of the "faith community," instead suggesting that the Central Florida Freethought Community be given three minutes to speak during the meetings' public comment period.
Bolin Lewis is currently requesting her fellow commissioners to allow her to send a letter to the Central Florida Freethought Community explaining why it cannot partake in the invocation.
"The invocation portion of the agenda is an opening prayer, presented by members of our faith community," Bolin Lewis' draft letter reads. "The prayer is delivered during the ceremonial portion of the county's meeting, and typically invokes guidance for the County Commission from the highest spiritual authority, a higher authority which a substantial body of Brevard constituents believe to exist."
"The invocation is also meant to lend gravity to the occasion, to reflect values long part of the county's heritage, and to acknowledge the place religion holds in the lives of many private citizens in Brevard County," the commission chair's letter adds.
