Atheist Group Sues West Virginia City for Reciting Lord’s Prayer at Meetings

A Wisconsin-based atheist organization has filed a lawsuit against a West Virginia city over the local government’s practice of opening official meetings with a reciting of the Lord’s Prayer. The Freedom From Religion Foundation filed the suit on Tuesday against the City of Parkersburg in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.

In their complaint, the FFRF stated that Parkersburg cannot open its City Council meetings with the Lord’s Prayer nor can they encourage attendees to participate. “The City Council’s recitation of the Lord’s Prayer has the primary effect of both advancing religion and expressing Defendant’s preference for Christianity above all other religions and nonreligion,” read the suit. READ MORE