….THERE’LL BE NO MORE INVOCATIONS
Wildomar Magazine applauds, nay, offers a silent prayer of thanks to Ultimate Goodness on behalf of Mayor-elect Scott Farnam for his first agenda, published on Friday. It appears that he has intentionally deleted the controversial ”invocation” portion of the agenda, thus freeing Wildomar from the overtly-Christian prayers promulgated by former Mayor Bob Cashman.
With the vast religious diversity in our country, state, county and city, where some religion’s intention to dominate society is a basic tenet of their “faith,” it is more important than ever that our government remain carefully secular.
You might be happy with the current “majority” religious climate until your grandchildren are forced to “accept” another’s religion. Keeping “all” religion out of our governmental activities is where religious tolerance is enforced.
Meanwhile, Zak is trying to determine, totally within the sanctity of his own cranium, which invocation event in Wildomar was the worst; the supplicant who finished her prayer by invoking specific, overt authority “in the name of Jesus” or the rube pastor who showed up late to the Council chambers, making all present, saint and sinner alike, stand by for “his” busy schedule. Both were offensive to Zak.
Zak believes all Men and Women of God should be five minutes early or they’re considered late, although Zak may be confusing his sales representative’s work habits with those of his clerical habits. (private note to Zak: perhaps there’s been too many careers in one chaotic lifetime).
Back to reality. What Mayor Farnam has done is to put Wildomar into a healthy legal and political squeeze. Mayor Cashman invoked; Mayor Farnam won’t. A city that changes invocation policy with each mayoral change invites trouble for itself.
It will behoove the City Council to finish their “Norming” task and make an “invocation-free” policy for the City it’s official policy. Otherwise, there can be lawsuits by one religious group or another, claiming favoritism. Or by the ACLU.
Wildomar Magazine will support a ”Minute of Silent Reflection” before each meeting, where every individual present can embrace Diety within the privacy of their own heads.
Or, if helpful to any citizen, a private, pre-meeting with clergy of their choice to release a flock of white dove or to anoint their forehead with oil or ash, as long as it is not performed in Council Chambers or near Zak’s windshield.
Comments can be offered to Zak at zakturango@excite.com but each e-mail should be prayerfully considered before hitting “enter.” It could be published on Wildomar Magazine.
