City Council Settles Suit By ending Invocations, Abolishing Chaplain Position

The Freedom From Religion Foundation announced last week that it has reached a settlement with the city of Pismo Beach, California which it sued last year challenging its practice of opening city council meetings with Christian prayer, usually offered by the city chaplain who is a Pentecostal clergyman. (See prior posting.) In the settlement, which must be approved by the court, the city agreed to end its practice of opening meetings with prayer, abolish the city chaplain position, and pay plaintiffs nominal damages and attorney fees of about $47,500. [Thanks to Andrew Seidel for the lead.]