Warren Republican Mayor Jim Fouts has been allowing a Christian group to have a “prayer station” in the Warren City Hall since 2009. The group hands out flyers and offers prayers to people that walk by.
Douglas Marshall recently requested permission to host a “reason center” where atheists could share their worldview in the City Hall atrium, as well. Fouts denied it with a shocking statement:
The city has certain values that I don’t believe are in general agreement with having an atheist station, nor in general agreement with having a Nazi station or Klu Klux Klan station. I cannot accept or will not allow a group that is disparaging of another group to have a station here.
So, there you have it. If you are a Christian group promoting prayer, you are A-OK in Fouts’ book. But, if you hold an alternative worldview, one in which religion plays no role and sees religion as counterproductive to society, you are no different than the KKK or the Nazis.
The ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation filed a lawsuit against Fouts and we’ll keep you apprised of the outcome of their case.
[Hat tip to Eclectablog reader Michael who brought this to my attention.]
