• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Redding California will invite invocations from all faiths

RLF

Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2008
Messages
91
Reaction score
9
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Undisclosed
May 18, 2010

"Redding California will invite a cross-section of religious leaders to give an invocation before City Council meetings.

The council voted 3-2 this evening to diversify the invocations after hearing from two speakers who urged officials to keep the prayers Christian or not offer them at all.

Mayor Patrick Jones had suggested the city open the invocations – essentially a prayer seeking guidance – to representatives of all religions practiced in the greater Redding area.

Vice Mayor Missy McArthur and council member Rick Bosetti supported the idea.

“I believe in diversity and inclusion in our society,” said McArthur, adding that she has participated in the National Day of Prayer at City Hall.

Council members Dick Dickerson and Mary Stegall dissented, saying the current practice of having police chaplains deliver the invocation keeps the city out of trouble with state law that forbids sectarian prayer at public meetings.

Stegall also questioned whether inviting different religious leaders to deliver the invocation would create the hoped-for sense of inclusion among different faiths.

“You will find it is not true diversity in our community because our community is not that diverse,” said Stegall, noting the city has tiny minorities of Jews, Muslims and Sikhs.

Read More:

Redding California will invite invocations from all faiths
 
I don't see why the invocation has to be religious. Can't they open the meeting with a positive affirmation that doesn't involve reference to scripture?

I mean, they're not going to be able to fit every religion in town into their invocation.
 
I think they should go all the way and have everything or nothing at all.
 
Am I missing something or is this hitting everyone as a huge "so what?"
 
Hmmmm....

I wonder if we can find a witch-doctor...
 
Why even have an invocation at all? WTF is the point?
 
Back
Top Bottom