An op-ed in Friday's Birmingham News tackles the issue of government-sponsored religious activity in the Alabama city, from invocations at council and board meetings to proselytizing in school assemblies. Columnist John Archibald has a simple warning: allowing the state to promote your own faith opens the door to promoting others as well.
[A]round these parts there will always be a call to freedom of faith in schools, city council meetings and school boards.
As long as you worship the right way.
It would have been different, I suppose, if [Bessemer High Social Studies teacher Tarus] Lyons had told students to attune themselves to the natural rhythm of life forces through the phases of the moon, as a Wiccan might.
It would have been different if [School Counselor Rick] Owens prayed to Hanuman the monkey god, or a sacred caterpillar known as Malacos the tent worm.
The Birmingham City Council, Archibald goes on to say, has opened meetings with only Christian prayers this year.
Comfort and tradition are no excuse for using the mechanisms of government to promote religion. You may feel at home with it now, but some day the faith that's pronounced from the councilman's gavel, or the public school's lectern may not be your own.
