City Commission prayer under attack

A national group that monitors issues concerning the separation of church and state is calling the Sarasota City Commission's opening prayer unconstitutional.

The American Humanist Association sent a letter to the city that stated the prayer violates the Constitution. AHA attorney William Burgess said an anonymous city resident had complained about the prayer.

Burgess is asking the prayer be stopped completely or replaced with a moment of silence.

City Attorney Robert Fournier will brief commissioners at this evening’s City Commission meeting.

Fournier said a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a similar issue affirms that the city’s prayer is legal.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].