Petition to Shelby Ohio to Reverse Prayer Ban

Petition Posted by Gordon James Klingenschmitt on October 18, 2009, 03:45 AM

PLEASE ADD YOUR "AMEN" TO THE PETITION BELOW!

Mayor Bill Freytag, Shelby, Ohio

SIGN PETITION BELOW, TO ALL FIVE MEMBERS OF SHELBY CITY COUNCIL TO OVERRIDE MAYOR FREYTAG'S BAN ON PRAYER BEFORE COUNCIL MEETINGS

Corroborating: Associated Press, 15 Oct 09, Dayton Daily News

Ohio mayor vetoes city council prayers

SHELBY, Ohio — A mayor has vetoed a proposal that would have required [allowed] a city council in Ohio to start meetings with a prayer.

Shelby Mayor Bill Freytag told the council in an e-mail that he took the action Wednesday on the advice of the city's law director, who felt the ordinance was unconstitutional.

The measure was approved 3-2 earlier this month by council members in the city of 49,000 about 65 miles north of Columbus. Supporters pointed out that the Ohio Legislature and the U.S. Congress open sessions with a prayer.

The mayor noted that the proposal had been the subject of much debate and had resulted in numerous phone calls and letters to his office, some from outside the area.

The city council may try to override the veto, which would require a vote of 4-1.
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TAKE ACTION FIVE WAYS:
1) Sign the petition below and write your comment which we'll post now.
2) Please politely email AND telephone each of the five city council members below and politely ask them to override the Mayor's Prayer Ban.
3) Phone and email the Mayor himself with your own polite opinion of his prayer ban.
4) Please prayerfully consider donating so we can purchase billboards announcing their vote if they don't reverse this ban, and
5) Pray God will bless the voters of Shelby Ohio with wisdom before the next election.

Councilor 1 Patricia Carlisle (419) 342-2218 E-mail: ward1councilmember@shelbyohio.org	Councilor 4 David Hoover 419-347-5460 E-mail: ward4councilmember@shelbyohio.org
Councilor 2 Cohen Lewis (419) 347-2012 E-mail: ward2councilmember@shelbyohio.org	Councilor 5 Steve Schag (419) 347-2134 E-mail: councilmemberatlarge@shelbyohio.org
Councilor 3 John Gates (419) 347-3337 E-mail: ward3councilmember@shelbyohio.org	Mayor Bill Freytag (419) 347-5131 E-mail: billfreytag@shelbyohio.org

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A PRAYER TO ALMIGHTY GOD,
and
A PETITION TO MAYOR OF SHELBY, OHIO, BILL FREYTAG,
and COUNCIL MEMBERS CARLISLE, LEWIS, GATES, HOOVER, SCHAG:

Dear Mayor and Councilmembers:

We the undersigned, respectfully petition you to defend religious freedom by allowing visiting pastors

of all diverse faiths and denominations, to pray aloud publicly according to the dictates of their own conscience,

at or before city council meetings, even if they dare to pray aloud publicly "in Jesus name" or invoke their own specific deity.

Please do not cave-in to atheist intimidation by the enemies of religious liberty, including your own ill-informed legal advisors.

Please conform your decision to First Amendment precedent which allows Jesus prayers among other rotating diverse prayers,

as already decided in the 7th Circuit (Hinrichs v. Bosma) and 11th Circuit (Pelphrey v. Cobb County)

and by the Supreme Court of the United States in two decisions: Marsh v. Chambers and especially Lee v. Weisman.

Jesus is not an illegal word, the Bible is not a banned book, and prayer speech is not a crime.

Please simply adopt a policy similar to Tulsa City Council, and declare the prayers are private speech, not government speech,

or allow the prayers to be said aloud during optionally attended time, just before the first government business is gaveled to order.

Please allow pro-bono Christian lawyers, from the Alliance Defense Fund or others, to defend your pro-Jesus prayer policy in court.

We pray to God you will stand with us by taking a courageous stand for liberty, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Add your "Amen" by signing below, and WE WILL POST YOUR COMMENTS to the
Mayor and Councilmembers of Shelby, Ohio immediately.

Sign the Petition

Petition Signatures

Gordon James Klingenschmitt - Colorado Springs, CO

Please reverse your ban on prayer. The Ohio legislature allows prayers of many kinds, including prayers in Jesus name!

Ella - Scottsburg, IN

This country was founded in the name of Christ by Christians. It was founded on religious liberty. How dare you attempt to remove it. God does not take lightly the mistreatment of His people.

Mary - Dallas, Texas

Thank you for your consideration.

Melanie - Fairbanks, Alaska

Please help save our country.....repent.... please, please,"turn back" to Him who blessed us with our awesome country IN THE FIRST PLACE......Thank you, Melanie Seitz

Bryan - Conway, Ar

The Right to Prayer is the most Fundamental Individual Right of all,,

Eugene - Humble, TX

Why does separation of church and state only apply when it is against Christians or the church? This is is an infringement on our right to pray in the name of Jesus if we so desire to do so. The state has no right, business or authority to make such a law as far as the Constitution says. Maybe the mayor needs to read the constitution.

mike - grafton, ohio

aman

Tom - Panama City Beach, FL

This is a Christian U.S.A. until Mayors and Councils like those in Shelby, Ohio try to reverse the truth. Please protect our future by voting to uphold our heritage and our Christian dedication to honor and obey the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Rev Jack - Riverside, CA

Don't oppose God as you may find yourself fighting with Him.

Albert - Renfrew, PA

Who killed the first Amendment? A councilperson, a mayor, a Congressperson, the Supreme Court, the President or Vice President or a plain & simple person who doesn't know that he/she doesn't know that that attempted murder of the first Amendment proves the statement, "Ignorance is not bliss; it is ignorance!" If nobody else sues you for violating one of our precious freedoms, there is a cadre of law firms who could stop their advertising if the case be came public. By the way, how have so many people passed an American History class without "KNOWING" American History?

Jane - South Beloit, IL

We have had it with people trying to kick God out of our country, school and every single event we attend. This is a christian nation and we are not going to take it anymore. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Naomi - Cusseta, AL

AMEN!!We want our religious liberty back. Our country was based and founded on "In God We Trust". Without God, we have no more freedom, liberty and we are going to face the consequences.

Joan - Johnson ;City, New York

It is strange how mortal man thinks they can cast out GOD and Jesus Christ..when they turn on the Holy Lord, they will be allowed to let GOD turn on them...how sad, our country has become so LOST

Rachel - Greenville, NC

Our freedoms are being eroded by these kind of decisions. To pray in Jesus name which is the correct way to pray according to the Bible is a deep conviction, and otherwise our prayers are worthless. When Jesus moves out evil moves in, I don't think you want what comes in and takes His place. Please reconsider this decision to take His name out of your prayers in the city meetings. Sincerely, Rachel

HAL Q - ENUMCLAW, WA

GOD SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD AT ALL PLACES AT ALL TIMES.