Mayor hangs heart on Measure I vote
ACLU threat may also influence decision
By CRAIG CURRIER
Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER – Mayor R. Rex Parris said his “heart will be broken” if residents do not support Measure I at the polls on April 13.
What else is riding on the vote about six weeks from now remains to be seen, though, as the practice of prayer at City Council meetings and threats of a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union may also be influenced by the decision.
Measure I reads: “In response to a recent complaint, with respect to the invocations that contained reference to Jesus Christ, shall the City Council continue its invocation policy in randomly selecting local clergy of different faiths to deliver the invocation without restricting the content based on their beliefs, including references to Jesus Christ?”
Peter Eliasberg, managing attorney for the ACLU of Southern California, last week refused to say whether the people’s support of the measure would change the group’s strategy for a potential lawsuit, but during a November Antelope Valley Press interview he called the City Council’s practice “unconstitutional” and said, “the people can’t violate the establishment clause.”
While the ACLU has not officially engaged the city in a court battle, threats of a lawsuit stem from the organization’s demand in August that the council halt “sectarian” prayers, deeming them unconstitutional and divisive.
Parris has not wavered, though, and is confident that should the ACLU proceed with a case the city’s decision will be affirmed.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they filed a lawsuit,” the mayor said. “I’d be disappointed. It’s just astonishing to me that people wouldn’t want their city leaders praying for some guidance. I couldn’t do the job if I didn’t pray for guidance.”
Parris disputes the ACLU’s claim that referring to Jesus Christ in prayer at City Council meetings is a definitive exclusion of all other faiths.
Instead, Parris said, it is signifying the strong relationship between the church and the community, which is changing the direction the city was headed before he became mayor.
Parris said the ACLU is an organization that “has done some wonderful things in the past, but clearly doesn’t want any mention of faith-based efforts in government, especially if it’s a Christian movement.”
Eliasberg called the assertion “ridiculous” and said though the ACLU’s establishment clause suits are often filed against government agencies favoring one religion, it is not always Christianity.
Eliasberg said he clearly remembers a case in the late 1990s when city leaders in Beverly Hills allowed a Jewish group to mount a menorah in a public park.
“That was a long time ago, but the reality is we would do that case today if it happened to come down the pike,” Eliasberg said.
“(Parris’ comment) is such a factually inaccurate statement.
“It is true more often than not that when government features a religion it happens to be Christianity, but those are not the only cases we take on.”
Parris sent Eliasberg a letter requesting the organization draft an argument against public prayer in an effort to help Lancaster citizens make a more informed decision. The ACLU has yet to file such an argument, though Parris said the door remains open for any kind of public discussion should the organization decide to accept his invitation.
Independent of the pressure from the ACLU, Parris said he does not want to be misunderstood.
“What I’m trying to do is create a community where every person can shine as bright as they want to,” he said. “The last thing I’m trying to do is exclude anybody.”
By using prayer as it has been used at council meetings, though, Eliasberg said exclusion is undoubtedly implied.
“Over and over again, the council invokes Jesus’ name,” he said. “How is anybody from any other religion going to feel welcomed?”
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