The Miami-Dade County Commission is poised next month to reinstate nondenominational prayers to kick off their meetings, after a group of commissioners approved the policy shift last week.
But the change was not spontaneous: The conservative Christian group pushing to restore prayer has been laying the groundwork for nearly a year and a half.
The Christian Family Coalition saw an opportunity to promote its agenda after Commissioner Katy Sorenson retired in late 2010, according Anthony Verdugo, the group’s executive director. Sorenson had been one of two board members who years earlier — in 2004, Verdugo said — changed the county’s practice to begin meetings with a moment of silence instead of a prayer.
Sorenson was replaced by the more conservative Lynda Bell, whom the Coalition had endorsed. There was other commission turnover as well.
Before then, “we didn’t feel we had enough votes on the commission to get it through,” Verdugo said. “We didn’t want it to be a divisive item for the community — we don’t need that.”
Why do religious fanatics with no respect for the US or Florida Constitutions always try to ram their version of Christianity down the throats of others? Do they not think other folks can be Christians unless they take their sledge hammer approach? This does nothing to proselytize the Christian religion, just creates more animosity. May be they should try reading their Bibles instead of just thumping them.
Posted by: Can't take anymore | November 22, 2012 at 07:03 PM
It IS devisive and un-Constitutional...pray in your church, and keep your religion out of Govt. !!!
Posted by: ZOOT | November 23, 2012 at 10:32 AM
This is our government too. We welcome prayers. Maybe it will help to restore some sanity to the operation of government.
And, it is NOT "devisive and un-Constitutional".
Why are people so quick to hurl their hate at folks who hold religious beliefs? What are you, bigoted?
Posted by: Good life | November 24, 2012 at 09:04 PM
By the way, they do read their Bibles. Never met anyone who thumps one though. What exactly is thumping a Bible, anyways?
Posted by: Good life | November 24, 2012 at 09:08 PM