At this point it should be of no surprise that even when people are taking oaths they’re breaking them within minutes. During the inauguration of the new city council in Keene there was not one but two sectarian prayers which completely disenfranchise the people in the city who don’t believe in a god or don’t believe in that particular god. Of course government endorsement of religion is also against the law. Using phrases such as “Gracious and holy one.” “May God give you courage.” “We pray in your most holy name.” obviously flies in the face of the law as well as the people who live in Keene.
From the New Hampshire Constitution:
Part 1 [Art.] 4. [Rights of Conscience Unalienable.] Among the natural rights, some are, in their very nature unalienable, because no equivalent can be given or received for them. Of this kind are the Rights of Conscience.
[Art.] 5. [Religious Freedom Recognized.] Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, and reason; and no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his peers on, liberty, or estate, for worshiping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession, sentiments, or persuasion; provided he doth not disturb the public peace or disturb others in their religious worship.
From the United States Constitution:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;….
Amazing how those who take oaths to uphold these documents seem to care the least about their content. There is no place in government for religion and the supposed founding documents of both the state and the country make that clear.
In response the Freedom From Religion Foundation was kind enough to send this letter encouraging the city to refrain from any further displays of religious bias and discrimination. Now let’s see if the city even has a response. You can hear the prayers for yourself below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFfBVbp_LX0?t=16m13s
The above continues into the below clip and if you skip ahead to 12:49 there’s more god talk.
