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Miami-Dade’s costly prayer

 

I was disappointed a few years ago when Miami-Dade Commissioner Katy Sorenson decided to move on to a new career. Now I’ve learned that in 2004 she and Comm. Sally Heyman were responsible for substituting a moment of silence for a non-denominational prayer at the beginning of commission meetings.

Sorenson may have represented one district of the county, but I’m now realizing that she really represented all of the mainstream citizens as she and Heyman had the sense to know that religion has no place in county government.

The commission committee that recently voted 10-1 to reinstate the prayer practice didn’t learn anything from our recent presidential election. The country spoke against far-right-wing religious ideas. And this issue, lobbied by the Christian Family Coalition, will cost taxpayers $22,000 for preparation of a database of congregations and another $4,000 a year for technical support and maintenance. What’s wrong with this picture?

Diane Lawrence, Miami

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