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Sep 28, 2009 8:06 pm US/Central
Opposing Sides Speak Out On NRH Council Prayer
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Sundown marks the end of Yom Kippur - the Jewish Day of Atonement, fasting and prayer. As the suns set Monday night, a debate over prayer was taking place in North Richland Hills. At issue -- whether city leaders can and should pray during public meetings.
Protestors and counter protestors are faced each other Monday night.
One side is upset that every city North Richland Hills city council meeting starts with a prayer. The other side came to stand up for their council members.
During Monday night's protest a concrete walkway and a couple of police officers separated the two groups but they're divided by much more.
"I quickly got on the phone and started calling churches in the area and I wanted to organize a counter protest in favor of our city council," explained prayer supporter Mike Peters.
Kathy Meadows is also in favor of having prayer at city council meetings. "I just thought, I'm gonna go to city council meeting and support them, because they have every right to say a prayer."
Some North Richland Hills residents have spent the last week getting ready to face a group they strongly disagree with. They are part of a group of counter protestors who don't believe there's anything wrong with starting a city council meeting with a prayer. "We believe in prayer in all assemblies," said Pastor Tommy Teague of North Richland Hills Baptist Church. "We believe it's a right and privilege that we have."
But Terry McDonald, with Metroplex Atheists,
says an opening prayer recently offended one of his members who is also a resident of North Richland Hills. "This is not a matter of faith; it's a matter of fairness. It's just not fair for that council to represent only Christians," McDonald explained.
The Metroplex Atheists and the Dallas/Fort Worth Coalition of Reason (DFWCoR) feel if people have to pray in public, there should be no reference to a specific creed. "We'll take any prayer as long as it's not, it doesn't say Jesus and it doesn't say Allah," said McDonald.
"They pray here in Jesus' name and most of the world is not Christian," said atheist protestor Karen Elenich.
City officials say their prayers are not just for Christians and they don't feel they're doing anything wrong. McDonald says there's a much bigger issue. It's about separation of church and state basically."
Officials are encouraging everyone to stand up for what they believe in, but said the Monday night meeting would still start with a prayer. A council spokesperson said, "We plan to continue business as usual."
The topic of prayer at city council meetings was not on the agenda Monday night, but anyone attending the meeting had the opportunity to fill out a form so they could talk about whatever they wanted.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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