Prayer Objectionable in City Council MeetingsMay 1992March 18, 1992 Salt Lake City Dear Council Members: I want to register my opposition to your decision to appeal the courts ruling against opening a government meeting with prayer. When you took the oath of office you agreed to uphold the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Utah. May I remind you of Article 12, Section 4 of the Utah Constitution: "There shall be no union of church and State, nor shall any church dominate the State nor interfere with its functions. No public money or property shall be appropriated for or applied to any religious worship, exercise or instruction, or for the support of any ecclesiastical establishment." There certainly can be no doubt in your mind that the city council chambers are "Public Property" and you certainly must recognize that the act of "praying" is a form of "religious worship," therefore praying in the city council chambers must be applying public property to religious worship, a clear violation of the Utah Constitution. So why are you appealing the 3rd District Court ruling? Regards, Florien J. Wineriter, President, Humanists of Utah CC: Utah Supreme Court |