A concerned community member reported that Council President John T. Cannon was leading Wicomico County Council members and attendees in the Lord’s Prayer prior to the Pledge of Allegiance at every meeting. FFRF was informed that multiple citizens had asked the council to end the practice, to no avail.

This is a problem. The Council President should not be leading a Christian prayer. I’d say that they should also get rid of the Pledge of Allegiance. What’s the purpose of pledging allegiance to a flag or even to the republic itself? That’s just nationalism. Depending on interpretation, you might as well be pledging allegiance to the current administration.

If they wanted to pledge allegiance to the US Constitution, I might be more amenable. It would still be stupid and meaningless, though.

On one occasion last fall, Council Member James Winn even read from the bible during his comments, exhorting that “everything is right here, the answers, this is truth.” He then read multiple passages from the bible, giving his interpretations. He concluded by saying, “I know that not everyone here is a Christian and that’s OK, I’ll pray for you. There’s only one way, there’s only one way, and that’s through Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior.”

If it wasn’t a council member, but an outside preacher, and they let people pray before the meetings without favoring a specific faith, then it would be more legal. Still crazy bullshit, though. Of course, in this case, it was a council member, so it’s a complete no-go.