A battle of seasoned advocates is shaping up over the prayers opening the Chesapeake, VA City Council meetings. With each side accusing the other of misrepresenting court precedent, the ACLU and Freedom From Religion Foundation are both crying foul, while the Alliance Defense Fund and the Family Foundation of Virgina are vowing to provide legal representation to the city.
Of course, the best way to solve disputes like this is to stop having offering officially sponsored prayers at all. If the city must, though, prayers should be non-sectarian, as prescribed in Marsh.
Sadly, when these disputes turn into a shouting match between determined national foes, the best interest of the city – which will likely be on the hook for fees if it does not prevail – fades into the background.
