I learned this morning that the Freedom from Religion Foundation, including Knoxville members, sent a letter to Knoxville City Council in objection to council’s practice of religious prayer prior to council meetings. The letter asks that the council “drop” the practice of prayer before meetings.

The letter reads: “The solution is simple; discontinue official government prayer before your meetings. We urge you to concentrate on civil matters and leave religion to the private conscience of each individual. If government meetings must show reverence, let it be for our secular and godless constitution, which enshrines the greatest American invention- the separation of church and state.”

I spoke with Vice Mayor Nick Pavlis regarding the matter, who referred all questions to council attorney Rob Frost.

Tasha Mahurin reporting…