Government prayer a long tradition

The Daily Herald article on Nov. 24 "Prayer before local meetings?" surely will create a firestorm. The Freedom From Religion Foundation needs to get a life. Bark up some other tree. A prayer before governmental meetings is a long-established American tradition.

The "Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution" refers only to Congress, not to local governmental bodies, unless, that is, the Supreme Court has delineated such a connection.

Concerning the "duty" of a governmental body not to favor a religion, such as Christianity, why should such a body have an obligation to invite only Christian, Jewish, or Muslim clerics to lead the opening prayer? What about the myriad other religions out there, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism? Also, what about the various branches of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam? Should they be represented, too?

Why should a governmental body in Wheaton, with its rich tradition of Christianity - Wheaton College, Billy Graham, etc. - invite a non-Christian cleric to lead its opening prayer? Does that make sense?

Joe Schrantz

Villa Park