Forced public prayer: Kennedy Center official's new request led to 'audible gasp' from staff

[cbabe]

https://www.rawstory.com/kennedy-center-audible-gasp-religion/

Kennedy Center official's new request led to 'audible gasp' from staff

David McAfee
June 8, 2025 8:12PM ET
…

Noting that the center recently filled a position for a director of faith-based programming, the outlet reported, "The religious orientation has at times extended to the institution’s staff."

"The Kennedy Center’s new head of development, Lisa Dale, invited her staff to pray during a May meeting, a request that prompted an audible gasp from some staff members, according to a person familiar with the matter," it stated. "Dale dropped the idea at the time. In the same meeting, she mentioned that insubordination would be grounds for dismissal, the person said."

… more …

[Autumn]

1. The Kennedy Center is not a fucking church. Might as well form a fucking

prayer line when you walki into the grocery store.

[Evolve Dammit]

19. Don't give them ideas....

[Native]

23. even a church wouldn't kick you out if you didn't join in prayer

[0rganism]

25. *was* not is. As in, "the Kennedy Center *was* not a fucking church"

Now it's whatever F47 or the woefully unqualified schmucks he injects into the system say it is. Is it a fucking church? I guess we'll see what it does after 3 years of these cretins' directions.

[dalton99a]

2. Lisa Dale was Kari Lake's operations manager

[newdeal2]

4. Carbon copy of Lake

Scary

[dalton99a]

5. +1. Crazy trash.

[Evolve Dammit]

21. I gotta hurl. Sorry

[AnotherMother4Peace]

3. Maybe they will be praying to Xenu, since a top Scientology & trump donor was appointed to the Board

by the Orange piece of shit himself. That would be Scientologist Trish Duggan.

[Evolve Dammit]

20. no relation to Xena the Warrior Princess I hope....

[Girard442]

6. Somebody once said you shouldn't pray in public.

Forget who. Probably nobody important.

[OldBaldy1701E]

13. Exactly.

I am sure it is someone who would know... the name escapes me though.

(Such hypocrisy from there people. Sigh.)

[dchill]

16. Cheeses Riced? Something like that?

[rickyhall]

7. 4--letter names; 4--letter words;

[Johonny]

8. Drama queens

The whole goal is constant drama.

[Initech]

9. Fucking what??? OMG!!!

Fuck this moron and his faith-based bullshit. He's the lowest, most depraved form of scum on earth. After Putin and Xi, he's the worst human being on earth.

[sakabatou]

10. Lisa Dale: Wanna see me break the First Amendment? Wanna see me do it again?

[ALBliberal]

11. Just rename it already!!

[flashman13]

12. The right thing to do in this situation is to get up, call out their BS for what it is, and walk out the door.

[NotHardly]

14. Phuck'em

[Crowman2009]

15. It's more of a bastardized x-tian prayer for the Talabangelicals.

Where the rich & powerful scream how holy they are, then afterwards head to the nearest coke-fueled orgy.

[twodogsbarking]

17. Seems like grounds for dismissal. Well, yes, it is.

[Evolve Dammit]

18. "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross." S. Lewis. Here we are. nt

[AllaN01Bear]

22. late mom once said " americia will be destroyed from within than without."

[Mr. Evil]

24. She can go fuck herself.

Might do her some good.

[LogDog75]

26. Forced prayer has always been with us but we don't have to succumb

I'm an atheist and I'm not shy about admitting it. I don't force my belief on others but I refused to be forced or intimidated into praying simple because someone in authority says "Let us pray." I served in the AF and when at functions where there was a benediction, the person delivering the benediction, usually a Chaplin, would say "Let us bow our heads pray" I wouldn't but I'd sit silently until it was over. I had some people notice my not taking part and asked me why and I told them I'm an atheist and I don't pray to any God. Never got into trouble for it. One thing I didn't like during the pray was in almost every pray would end in something like "In Jesus Christ's name, amen." My problem was there were members of the Jewish, Muslim, and other faiths for whom invoking Christ's name wasn't appropriated.