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Arroyo Grande axes prayer from council meetings

December 11, 2014

invocationFollowing a threat of Satanism preaching at council meetings, the Arroyo Grande City Council voted to eliminate its longstanding invocation practice.

The council voted 3-2 on Tuesday to stop holding invocations and replace them with moments of silence. Council members Barbara Harmon and Tim Brown dissented in the vote.

Four members of an atheist group spoke during public comment at the hearing. One said a local satanic group is forming, and due to a recent Supreme Court hearing, the city would have to allow them to participate in the invocation practice.

In May, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that faith-based invocations are permissible at public meetings. However, the ruling shortly followed the city of Pismo Beach choosing to settle a lawsuit filed by an atheist group, claiming prayer that occurred at council meetings had violated the California Constitution.

The Pismo Beach City Council agreed to stop allowing prayer at the beginning of its meetings and to pay $47,502 in legal fees and damages to the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

In addition to Pismo Beach, the cities of Atascadero and San Luis Obispo also do not have invocations at their council meetings. Grover Beach and Morro Bay councils each conduct moments of silence, according to an Arroyo Grande staff report.

Paso Robles is now the only city in the county that still has invocations at council meetings. Representatives of any faith, including atheism, can participate.


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Good Lord ,


What is this world coming to… Help Us All Lord.. Please God Do not let the Idiots take over!


Amen !


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God is patient. This is no different than a teenager being defiant to his/her parents before being enlightened later in life. Though this is inconvenient and irritating, it will work it’s way out like it always does. God still loves those who claim they don’t believe in him just like parents Love their kids unconditionally. God will reveal his plan…just do what he calls us to and it will all be good. Merry Christmas to all and to those who don’t believe, be sure not to open and presents! haha God created humor too!.


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This is a good thing……times have changed. The face of religion these days is a bunch of folks saying that they don’t believe in evolution, and that the the earth is only about 6,000 years old. They consider women to be second class citizens, and don’t support gay rights. They’re big on guns, and think Obama is the Kenyan devil. This is why smart caring people are distancing themselves from religion….


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