A group that advocates for the First Amendment’s separation of church and state is asking the Fountain Hills Town Council to stop doing religious invocations at meetings.
At least two council members say the practice is fine.
The request by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which counts more than 1,000 Arizonans as members, was recently made via an email sent to council members.
The note says the invocation at a September meeting shortly after Charlie Kirk was assassinated led to a resident complaint that council members were promoting a religion.
“Well, it’s boilerplate, people that are easily offended and think they can bully the town and the people of the town,” said Allen Skillicorn, vice mayor of Fountain Hills.
In a statement, Councilwoman Gayle Earle said invocation participation is voluntary, and the town welcomes prayers from all denominations as well as speakers who aren’t religiously affiliated.
A legal battle may be brewing
The Freedom from Religion Foundation letter cites recent Supreme Court case law that the First Amendment mandates government neutrality between religions.
“Frankly, the letter writer is using a remedial understanding of what the Constitution means,” Skillicorn said.
In a statement, Councilwoman Brenda Kalivianakis said council members proselytizing violates the First Amendment and exposes the town to legal action and costs.
-
New federal court filings reveal that efforts to build an ICE detention center in Surprise are progressing slowly, and the Department of Homeland Security has indicated there is no rush to open the facility. -
Cataloging information from the Confluence may also be used to potentially deter future commercial development by industries like hydropower — while the Trump administration is eyeing energy projects on tribal lands. -
The boy’s death and the pay-to-play allegations highlight questions about Arizona's congregate-care capacity for children, training for workers who care for them and oversight of providers and other contractors who hold leverage over the state simply due to their size and influence. -
To talk about GOP lawmakers wanting more information on an investigation into Gov. Hobbs, the data center debate coming to Arizona and more, The Show sat down with Doug Cole of HighGround and Democratic strategist Tony Cani. -
This fall, the state’s voters will have a say on eight ballot measures — all of them proposals referred to the ballot by legislative Republicans.
