Christian Mayor Refuses to Support Humanist Recognition Week, Religious Groups Discuss Response

[SecularMotion]

Last week, I posted about a meeting of the Vero Beach City Council (in Florida). The five-member council had an easy task in front of them: Approving a resolution marking “Humanist Recognition Week.” But two of the councilmembers refused to do it because of their religious views:

Mayor Craig Fletcher didn’t support the resolution because it was promoting a belief system he didn’t agree with: “I refuse to support an organization that does not believe in Jesus Christ…” Vice Mayor Tracy Carroll also said no because when she looked up the word “Humanist” on the Internet, she saw it was related to atheism (!!!) and she couldn’t be associated with that.

The resolution passed thanks to the other three members of the council, but these sorts of resolutions tend to be unanimous. It’s a big deal that it wasn’t.

At the time, the only people who seemed upset about what the Mayor and Vice Mayor said were the council members who voted for the resolution and members of the Humanists of the Treasure Coast, who suggested the resolution in the first place.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/06/10/after-christian-mayor-refuses-to-support-humanist-recognition-week-religious-groups-are-discussing-a-response/

[cbayer]

1. Looks like they might get voted out over this. The good news

is that the other council members voted for it and it passed.

[HockeyMom]

2. Guess Jewish organizations are out too?

"organization that does not believe in Jesus Christ". I guess there are only Christians in Vero Beach.

[rug]

3. Meeting today of faith community members in wake of Vero Beach Council dispute over humanist proclam

By Zaimarie De Guzman
Posted June 11, 2013 at 6:58 a.m.

VERO BEACH — Members of Indian River County’s faith community are meeting Tuesday at Community Church of Vero Beach to discuss a dispute that occurred in the June 4 Vero Beach City Council meeting, in which Mayor Craig Fletcher refused to recognize a non-Christian organization.

At the City Council meeting, Fletcher asked that a request for a proclamation for Humanist Recognition Week be pulled, saying, “I refuse to support an organization that does not believe in Jesus Christ. I’ll have nothing to do with it.”

Vice Mayor Tracy Carroll opposed the proclamation as well, but the three other council members did not, and it was passed. Fletcher could not be reached for comment.

Usually, proclamations for special days and weeks are approved without discussion or controversy.

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2013/jun/11/meeting-today-of-faith-community-members-in-wake/

[Adsos Letter]

4. The proclamation Carroll and Fletcher refused to support

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the Constitution of this land recognizes that all religious perspectives be treated equally; and

WHEREAS, as a nation and community of citizens from so many diverse backgrounds and beliefs, the only way we can solve our problems is through cultivating intelligent, and ethical interactions among all people, with tolerance and respect; and

WHEREAS, our nation and community face many problems, from creating jobs, educating our children, reducing violence, protecting our citizens, and guarding the integrity of scientific research, we must call upon compassion guided by reason to solve these problems; and

WHEREAS, lasting legacies of the use of the scientific method and the power of reason have been left for the benefit of humanity by great Humanists, such as Dr. Jonas Salk, Dr. Albert Einstein, Dr. Carl Sagan, Dr. Isaac Asimov, and many others.

NOW THEREFORE, I, A. Craig Fletcher, Mayor of the City of Vero Beach, Florida do hereby proclaim that the week of June 16 through June 23, 2013 be known, designated and set aside as “Humanist Recognition Week” in Vero Beach in recognition of the contribution to the quality of life in Vero Beach by the Humanist Community.

http://insidevero.com/2013/06/07/the-proclamation-carroll-and-fletcher-refused-to-support/

[Phillip McCleod]

5. what a dumbfuck..

..let's hope they pay for it at the polls.. but I wouldn't count on it.