Americans United Protests Sectarian Prayer At Minnesota Senate

[Adsos Letter]

Source: AU Press Release
March 21, 2011.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today urged the Minnesota Senate to end its practice of opening sessions with prayer.

In a letter to Senate leaders, Americans United said abolishing the invocations would be respectful of the state’s religious diversity and more in keeping with constitutional principles. At a minimum, the watchdog group said, the legislative body should ensure that opening prayers are not sectarian.

The AU letter comes in the wake of a controversial prayer March 14 by the Rev. Dennis Campbell, pastor of the Granite City Baptist Church in St. Cloud.

In his invocation, Campbell intoned, “We pray, Lord, that you help us show reverence to the Lord Jesus Christ.” He noted that “Jesus said, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life’” and concluded “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ our savior, we pray.”

LINK: http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2011/03/au-protests-sectarian-prayer.html

[MNBrewer]

1. Setting aside for the moment the dubious constitutionality of these prayers

I think it's rude to pray in such an obviously sectarian, exclusionary manner (supposedly) on behalf of legislative body where there are people of diverse religious beliefs, some of which explicitly deny the lordship and saviorship of Jesus.

What a prick!

[Adsos Letter]

2. That was AU's take on it (also setting aside the dubious constitutionality)

although they are primarily focused on Constitutional issues surrounding Church/State separation.

Edit: I'll get it right at some point... :dunce:

[glinda]

3. He is from Bachman's District.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

4. How about a Unitarian prayer?

Supposedly the joke is that Unitarian-Universalists pray "To Whom It May Concern".


Would that work?

[Rex]

5. Make them read this.

A Soldier Reports to God

The Soldier stood and faced his God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as brightly as his brass.

Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?

The soldier squared his shoulders
and said, No Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills just got too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand,
I've never had that much in life,
So if you don't I'll understand.