City Voters Approve Continuing Prayers To Open Council Meetings

On Tuesday, voters in Lancaster, California approved by a vote of more than 3-1 Nonbinding Measure I that calls for City Council to continue its present prayer policy. According to yesterday's Merced (CA) Sun-Star, the policy provides for clergy of different faiths to lead a prayer opening council meetings. Most of the invocations, however, have been sectarian Christian prayers. Mayor R. Rex Parris says that is not surprising since up to 90% of the community is Christian. The ACLU is considering filing suit over the city's prayer policy. Parris says he is confident the policy will be upheld in court. (See prior related posting.)