City council rejects ban on sectarian prayers

City council rejects ban on sectarian prayers

The city council of Tracy, California, has voted unanimously to continue its 40-year policy of allowing sectarian prayers before its meetings, despite the risk of lawsuits.

A proposal to ban references to specific religions was put forth by the city attorney's office with the intention of conforming with a 2000 court ruling. The court decision held that invoking any particular faith in such a setting would be unconstitutional.

But the effort to change the Tracy city council's tradition was voted down on Tuesday night.

Several clergy members spoke against the proposal; no one spoke in it's favor.

Council members argued that allowing sectarian prayers doesn't favor one religion as long as all faiths get a chance to offer invocations.