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Jun 28, 2009 11:22 pm US/Pacific
Local City Council Prayer Draws National Ire
LODI, Calif. (CBS13) ―
The city of Lodi is gaining national attention over a tradition they do before every city council meeting that may be against the city's own bylaws.
For decades, the Lodi City Council has started its meeting the same way, with a prayer. The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation wants to do something about it, especially with a particular religious reference.
"The council is frequently invoking Jesus Christ in their invocations during their meetings," said spokesperson Rebecca Kratz.
The city's own bylaws say an invocation is acceptable, but that it must be nondenominational.
"Invoking a specific deity like that is a direct violation of not only federal law but California state law," Kratz said.
The invocation prayer is done on a volunteer basis, primarily by leaders of Christian-based churches, but the city says any religious leader is welcome.
Pastor Bill Cummins has done the prayer multiple times, including at the last meeting where he was reminded to abide by the city's rules.
"They asked me to avoid it, so I did," Cummins said. "You can use other terminology without using those very controversial words, Jesus Christ."
"None of the rules refer to anything regarding Jesus Christ, the historical person that many of us believe is God," he added.
Since the reinforcement of the rules, another pastor declined to take part.
At the August 5 meeting, the City Council will decide how to proceed: Leave the issue be, reinforce the current rules, or change the rules altogether.
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