Prayer Protesters And Supporters Pack Lodi
August 6, 2009
.
FOX 40 — FOX 40 News
Hundreds of people on both sides of a debate over public prayer rallied outside Lodi City Hall before the city council’s Wednesday night meeting.
The rallies stem from a complaint by a group called The Freedom from Religion Foundation. The group has demanded that the council stop allowing pastors to pray out loud “in Jesus’ name” before council meetings. The council has a policy that the prayers must be “non-sectarian and non-denominational,” which the Freedom from Religion Foundation wants to see enforced.
There were some moments of heated debate during Wednesday night’s rallies. But otherwise, the crowds were peaceful. Those opposed to public prayer “in Jesus’ name” mostly marched with picket signs. Those in favor came out in larger numbers, holding a rally that included speeches, songs, and prayers. Colorado Springs Chaplain Gordon James Kingenschmitt, founder of the website prayinjesusname.org, showed up with a stack of more than 5,000 signatures, urging the council to keep the pre-meeting prayers.
[…]
