FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 2, 2010
CONTACT:
Brandon Hensler, Director of Communications, (786) 363-2737 or media@aclufl.org
MIAMI – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida sent the following letter today asking the Miami City Commission to revise its practice of opening each meeting of the City Commission with a prayer.
Download a PDF copy of the letter: http://www.aclufl.org/miamicommissionprayer.pdf
The full text of the letter follows:
June 2, 2010
Miami City Commission
Marc Sarnoff, Commission Chairman
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
Dear Commissioner Sarnoff,
We are writing to ask that the Miami City Commission revise its practice of opening each meeting of the City Commission with a prayer.
We have reviewed the welcome portion of each meeting of the Miami City Commission that is archived on the City’s official website. Commission meetings have been archived on this site from June 12, 2008 through May 27, 2010.
We note that the recent practice of the Miami City Commission with regard to opening prayers at Commission meetings involves City officials directing those in attendance to stand and bow their head, participate in a prayer and the offering of a prayer that reflects a clear preference for one religious tradition.
The Commission’s practice follows this pattern:
• From June 25, 2009 until February 11, 2010, the opening prayer at City Commission meetings was delivered (with few exceptions) by City Clerk Priscilla A. Thompson. Ms. Thompson’s prayers have all been somewhat similar with the closing of each prayer always the same: “We ask these things in the name of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
• Starting on February 11, 2010, in your capacity as Commission Chairman, you have called on Commissioner (and Rev.) Richard P. Dunn to deliver the opening prayer. Commissioner Dunn’s prayers have uniformly opened with the invitation (“Shall we pray…”) and concluded with “…in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
The following practices should be reviewed and revised:
• public officials (elected or appointed) directing citizens in attendance at Commission meetings to stand, bow their head and join in prayer,
• invoking prayers invoking “in the name of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ” or “…in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” and
• demonstrating a preference for one particular religious tradition.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida calls on the members of an Advisory Committee of clergy, theologians and academicians for counsel and advice on how to best address legal and constitutional issues that arise in the relationship between governmental agencies and religious institutions. Several members of our Advisory Committee submitted letters on the matter of official prayers at the beginning of governmental meetings. These letters are included. We hope they letters will be useful to you and your colleagues on the Commission.
We ask you to give serious consideration to how the practices of the Miami City Commission can, and should, be revised to reflect the celebrated diversity of our community.
In a religiously diverse democracy, citizens of all faiths (or no faith at all) should not be subjected to officially-sponsored religious practices before participating in the affairs of local government.
Sincerely,
Carlene Sawyer Dr. Howard Simon
President, Greater Miami Chapter Executive Director
American Civil Liberties Union of Florida
cc: Members, Miami City Commission
About the ACLU of Florida
The ACLU of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For additional information, visit our web site at: www.aclufl.org.
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