Lake Forest council to begin invocations, atheists scream in horror!

[Too_Many_Tools]

LAKE FOREST � When it next convenes, the City Council here will
become the 26th in Orange County to include an invocation at its
meeting.

Under a new policy approved 4-1 on Tuesday night, council
members will have the option of giving an invocation without
mention of a specific religion's deity, offering words of
inspiration or presiding over a moment of silence. Councilman
Peter Herzog voted against the policy, saying faith should
remain a private matter.

Members will rotate the position; only those interested in
participating will do so.

Seven people spoke on the issue: four in favor, three opposed.

"I notice that you have In God We Trust over the city of Lake
Forest emblem, and I think that says right there how you feel
and where you stand," said Joette Koelsch of Capistrano Beach.
"If you can post In God We Trust over your emblem of your city
then I think that you can agree that it's OK to pray to that
same God that you trust in."

Pastor David Arnold, speaking on behalf of Saddleback Church,
agreed: "You have a particular faith that you want to express, a
particular God that you want to ask to help you make decisions
and as leaders I want you to have the ability to reflect your
faith as a leader."

Prayer is a "historical practice" in America, said Pastor
Clayton Robinson of Connection Church in Lake Forest, which
opened a little over a year ago. Previously a pastor in Laguna
Niguel for nearly 20 years, Robinson said that city had no
issues with invocations at meetings.

"For me, while I may believe in a Christian God, I would be
perfectly comfortable if an atheist were to come and to bring a
blessing of peace upon our community because we can always use
all the peace and blessing we can get," he said.

Lake Forest resident Kandice Hawes said prayer at meetings makes
her feel "uncomfortable." Another resident, Ted Perle, said
invocations could offend believers by focusing on a specific
religion or deity.

"Which God will be brought up? Which God will be praised?" Perle
said.

Councilman Dwight Robinson said he favored inviting community
members to give invocations, but agreed to rotate the duty among
council members to accommodate concerns by Mayor Pro Tem Kathryn
McCullough and Councilman Peter Herzog about using city
staffers' time to seek out speakers.

Allowing words of inspiration or a moment of silence convinced
Councilman Adam Nick to support the item, which he previously
opposed out of concern for separation of church and state.

Mayor Scott Voigts, who first brought the idea before this
council, said faith has been important to the nation since its
founding.

"I do not want to force my religion or push my religion on
anybody, but I do want to invoke God's blessings � and however
you want to take that � I want to invoke God's blessings upon
our citizens, our businesses, on those who protect us at night,"
he said.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/want-500577-council-city.html

����������������