How can council honor all beliefs?

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, January 22, 2002

I have to respond to the letter written by Mr. Kelly (“Marysville council: Safe prayers aren’t viable options,” Jan. 16). As a strong Christian woman, I am often driven to my knees in prayer in search of strength and wisdom. But I do not believe a council meeting is the place for this.

How does one know that every person in attendance at a city council meeting believes in or worships God? What of the Buddhists, Muslims, atheist and even the Wiccan attendees? Do they not have a right to pray to the deity that they worship? Would the plan for prayer ignore these other religions or would we just take turns?

In all honesty I say a private prayer for strength and wisdom often during the day, but since I do not know the faith of the people around me, I keep it to myself. I mean, am I praying or witnessing?

The only one who needs to hear your prayer knows your thoughts before you think them.

Arlington