EXPOSED: School Board says Lord's Prayer before meetings

Sarasota Herald-Tribune (Fla.) ^ | 5/25/03 | LAURA GREEN

[hemogoblin]

MANATEE COUNTY -- Before they begin every meeting, the five members of the School Board stand -- asking those in the audience to join them -- bow their heads and recite the Lord's Prayer. While factions may form during their meetings, the board is unanimous in its belief that prayer -- the one from the New Testament in particular -- is the way to begin their meetings.

Others don't agree.

Steven Rosenauer of Bradenton said he came to a School Board meeting this month full of pride for his son who was to be recognized as part of Haile Middle School's technology team.

But when he was asked to stand for the Lord's Prayer, Rosenauer, who is Jewish, ended up feeling uncomfortable and angry.

"I was pretty insulted," he said.

Rosenauer went home that night and wrote a letter, questioning the religious gesture.

He isn't alone. Some Christians are equally taken aback by the prayer.

Nancy Horne, former education committee chairwoman for the county League of Women Voters, said she was surprised to see the board begin its meetings with the prayer.

"I don't have a problem with the Lord's Prayer. I say it all the time," Horne said. "I just don't think it's appropriate for board meetings."

Court rulings only cloud the issue.

But board members stand behind the prayer that has opened their meetings for at least 20 years.

[hemogoblin]

The article does not quote anyone who supports -- or at least is not bothered by -- the prayers. Only opponents, and the board members themselves.

This was a page-one, top of the page story for Sunday.

[Mister Baredog]

OH YEA, those evil "Christians" are at it again. It seems "freedom" to "practice" ones religion is fine as long as it's not ANY single person that may wish to object. Well, I object to that notion, I find it offensive, however being a white male Christian, it seems MY right to object is NON-EXISTENT.

The "offenders" hold all the rights to be "offended", Orwell would be proud.

[inquest]

Wow, major expose' indeed! I'm glad we have these intrepid investigative reporters keeping us informed of such sinister evil machinations by our public servants. I expect that this scoop will put the ringleaders behind bars in no time flat.

[steplock]

Public meeting prayers should be made to G*D and preferably an "original" prayer by the one leading the prayer. (but not "Off-the-Cuff").

The Lords Prayer would be inappropriate especially to the many Christian denominations - for instance - there is a difference between the Catholic original version and the Protestant that added the words "For Thine is the Kindom, the Power, and the Glory..."

Being brought up Catholic, I felt that it was "sacriligious" since, to me, it was man's re-interpretation of G*D's Word.

Imagine a Jewish person as portrayed in this story.

Look at the reactions to the re-writes of the Pledge of Aligiance and National Anthem we get on here!

Prayers are appropriate, silent prayers are best.

[HIDEK6]

These people have a pretty low threshold for being offended, outraged, humiliated, disrespected, whatever.

[Procyon]

Some Christians are equally taken aback by the prayer

I agree that some [people who call themselves] Chrisitans are equally taken aback by the prayer, but what is there in the Lord's prayer that any religious person would object to? It's about as non-denominational as anything Our Lord Jesus Christ ever spoke.

[Mister Baredog]

Imagine a Jewish person as portrayed in this story.

Are you offended when a Jew prays, I'm not. They said this has been the way they opened their meetings for 20 years, is this the first JEW brave enough to stand up against the tyranny of the Majority, give me a break, it's politically correct to bash anything Christian these days, it's simple.

[Procyon]

I,too, was brought up Catholic to believe that the "kingdom, power, glory" at the end was improper. However, times have changed and the Roman Catholic Catechism has adopted placing the doxology at the end of the Lord's Prayer. See: http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p4s2.htm straight from the Vatican website.

[jigsaw]

Our NEA,
Who art no Heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Fiefdom come,
Thy will be done,
In school, as in a Seven-Eleven....

[Kuksool]

According to political correct doctrine, liberals have the right not to be offended. The right does not extend to Christians however. To avoid offending the thin-skinned liberals, perhaps the school board ought to hold the Lord's Prayer a half-hour before the meeting begins, instead of as an opening to the meeting. But then again, the liberals will still complain about it.

[Mister Baredog]

But then again, the liberals will still complain about it.

I thought this sentence needed more context IMHO LOL!

[Kingasaurus]

"According to political correct doctrine, liberals have the right not to be offended."

Actually, some people think it's wrong for people in their official capacity as officers of the government to be engaging in organized prayer as a part of official business. You might not agree with that opinion, but it has little to do with political correctness or the supposed right not to be offended.

[hemogoblin]

Exactly! What I couldn't believe was how this was splashed on Page 1 as if we would all be mortified. Goes to show how journalism is so divorced from U.S. reality. Oh and it's an NYT-chain paper of course.

[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP

[steplock]

Just me, but I still feel that silent prayer is still more appropriate - Praying out loud in public reminds me of the "Pharisees"

Just my opinion.