After Ron Angle was shipped off to the shit fields of Upper Mount Bethel, then Council President John Cusick took over the prayer himself, and would read some banal statement he did not mean to people who did not listen before every meeting. Now it's Glenn Geissinger's turn. My problem with that is that he at least was a Bishop in his own denomination. So allowing him to lead the prayer before every meeting, as Peg Ferraro has done, really favors his religion to the exclusion of others. It also creates the impression that anyone who differs with Geissinger is taking on God.
Before the last meeting, Geissinger started things off with, "Bow your head!"
Say what?
You're not the boss of me.
I don't mind if some preacher from a real church tells me to do that, but no member of Council has the constitutional authority to tell anyone they must participate in what he considers a prayer.
Since Peg Ferraro is apparently too lazy to line up clerics to give real invocations before each meeting, the prayers should stop. This has crossed the line.
I refuse to participate in this nonsense one instant more.
35 comments:
they should let brown say the prayer. then at least he would serve some purpose in norco
Gessinger is a phony windbag.
The most appropriate thing to do at a "pubic" meeting is ASK people to take a moment to bow their heads for a moment of severance for their faith.
Sorry, I may be a good Christian boy but I dislike this prayer show that is now part of even local politics.
Save it for the Church of your choice, not a government al meeting.
You sound like my wife. Every time I tell her to get on her knees she says, No.
There is no room for politically lead prayer in politics. None that is!!! I find it shocking that a Councilman is actually requiring people to pray at a Public meeting. Hoping that Dear Leader Geissinger doesn't send BO to the Gulag for failure to pray!! Or, maybe we should continue the forced prayer LOL.
Jesus Christ, what the Hell?
There, I got both bases covered in one sentence.
Glenn is a highly placed Mormon and a lily white organization if I ever saw one. Hypocritical of any and all other religons except Christianity. It needs to stop right now and you are right to call it what it is. A moment of silence is better by far than this dogmatic tragedy unfolding in NorCo.
You "Heathens". Aren't we supposed to spread the word of God? Oh yeah, spread the word of God except at Council meetings. Find something else to fight with the Republicans about. How about we are four months into their having control of Council and the Executive's seat but haven't had one idea for cutting cost or one cost saving move to ease the burden on taxpayers.
Try to stay on topic 8:00 am. This is not about one political party or another. Bernie is correct. No one can impose their beliefs on another especially a councilperson of the county. Read the Establishment clause of the US Constitution and you might actually learn something important about America.
Time for Glenn to check his ego and his religion at the doors before entering the county facilities. Unbelievable!
There should be no prayer whatsoever, cleric or no. How ridiculous.
This issue is before the S Ct right now. I do not oppose prayer. I oppose it when led by the same Council member and by one religious denomination. I really resent when a Council member tells me to engage in any religious act. I refuse to participate in any more of their prayers.
Good for you Bernie. Time to stand up on this topic as it is quite evident that Glenn is abusing his position on council and shame on them for letting it happen especially Mrs. Ferraro.
Cusick set a bad precedent and now it has become past practice. Stop it before it spreads any further.
There is nothing wrong with a short prayer before the meeting. It's been going on for years and now because the extremist are winning some of the arguments they want to take this on.
These people make decisions for the rest of us and a little thought from a prayer does some good. Most rather have it anyway but agin the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
I did prefer Angle' s way. From what I've seen it was best because it covered many religions. We are at this point now.
Geissinger should not tell anyone to bow their heads. Almost everyone did this on their own so whom does he say this to?
Peg needs a better plan or she have put some restrictions on Glenn.
Exactly who is running council? Peg or Glenn? Seems the VP has assumed the throne and makes all the calls especially concerning how meetings are conducted and who does the praying. What a joke.
If divine intervention is needed by council to make decisions..we're in BIG trouble here in NorCo.
Meh, what's another lawsuit to this administration?
don't let it bother you Bernie , just don't do it ~
This issue is before the S Ct right now. I do not oppose prayer. I oppose it when led by the same Council member and by one religious denomination. I really resent when a Council member tells me to engage in any religious act. I refuse to participate in any more of their prayers.
Seems you are making exclusions. No prayer at all in public business. It doesn't matter who is doing it. At the minimum, the very act itself discriminates against people who don't believe in deities.
At the minimum, the very act itself discriminates against people who don't believe in deities.
In order not to "discriminate" the council, at the end of the prayer, can add an equal time of silence for atheists to think of nothing at all.
Deeds not words are what I voted for. I don't give a darn if you are a flaming atheist(I'm a Christian), as long as you are an honest and thoughtful representative.
Boy did we get this last county election all wrong.
10:32, yeah, I'm not there. I have no problem with an invocation. I just oppose it being done to favor one religion or make it appear that one Council member is speaking for God.
As a druid, I'd like to open the meeting with human sacrifice. Any suggestions on who the first offering might be?
I'm an atheist and I have no problem with an invocation either. It's when you start trying to be inclusive of all religions or picking one religion that it becomes a joke where it's best left to the places of worship.
By the way, I'm intrigued by the characterization of "a FLAMING atheist". What in the hell does that mean?
Bernie
You should move to Allentown.
We're living a full-blown miracle over here.
These assholes have a lot of nerve invoking God before passing laws and budgets that authorize institutional stealing, in violation of the the eighth commandment. Peg Ferraro stole her salary for the better part of two years by not showing up half the time. She should go to confession for lying and stealing. Angle put up the Ten Commandments while he was practicing his anti-Semitism. You can always find religious pretenders. They like to be seen praying in public.
"a flaming atheist" is probably the same as a flaming Christian or a flaming Buddhist, etc.
You atheists are like the vegans, no sense of humor. Why so serious???
"In the name of the father, son and Holy Spirit... lets bow our heads. Father..."
I really hope things like this are NOT being said before a public meeting of our government. If so, they all should immediately resign. Good grief!
What is the name of the priest in the picture? Is that your buddy the angry priest?
The Blog Mentor is one vindictive little prick. But that is all he is.
Isn't it funny that the decline of the American family is commensurate with progressive liberal denunciation of religion...especially in public places?
There is a connection there that cannot be refuted. I by no means am a fervent religious person but to say that progressivism isnt responsible for the downturn of our American culture is to deny the truth. Years ago, no one would dare question an invocation at a public meeting.
You can make that argument, but I think it is wrong to have a pre-meeting invocation from a member of Council. I think it is really wrong when one religion is favored. Itis despicable when a member of Council tells me how to pray.
We fought a Revolutionary War to keep the King's religion from being foisted on the rest of us. Pennsylvania was a place where tolerance was supposed to be the rule. I don't think our founding fathers would appreciate or buy the argument that they be compelled to pray by the government, even in the name of family values.
And this has nothing to do with liberal or conservative ideologies. Stop that nonsense. Not everything fits into your peg holes.
The religious establishment clause of the constitution is there for a reason! Read America's history before you start throwing religion around at a public governmental meeting.
"American culture"
You baggers love catch phrases and slogans. How about some real substance. What exactly defines "American culture"?
"There is a connection there that cannot be refuted"
Really? what actual evidence to prove this do you have, short of some guys on the radio? I refute the connection. I can make the statement that any decline in any Family or American culture", has more to do with the corrosion of America as an economic job creator and a grossly overconcentration of wealth in the hands of a newly entrenched plutocracy that is out of kilter with every other industrialized nation in the world. I could argue that allowing and rewarding such an out of balance economic system as well as the failure to address the issue as rational citizens has done more to harm the "American culture" than anybody questioning a prayer at a public meeting.
sn't it funny that the decline of the American family is commensurate with progressive liberal denunciation of religion...especially in public places?
There is a connection there that cannot be refuted. I by no means am a fervent religious person but to say that progressivism isnt responsible for the downturn of our American culture is to deny the truth. Years ago, no one would dare question an invocation at a public meeting.
Only a fool would insinuate that atheists have no moral code or desire for family. Years ago, no one would dare marry another race. Years ago, no one would have made it known that they were gay. Progress is good unless you have a vested interest in the old and discriminatory ways.
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