• Freedom from Religion Foundation upset about prayers at the La Crosse Common Council's meetings.
• The La Crosse Common Council has not had the time to consider the foundation's request
• A Supreme Court ruling allows invocations with certain guidelines.
• The Dodge County Board recently switch to a moment of silence instead of a prayer because of FFRF's work.

The Madison based Freedom from Religion Foundation is against the La Crosse Common Council opening their meetings in prayer.

A FFRF letter to the La Crosse Common Council's president said, "I am writing to advise that the current Common Council practice of opening government meetings with prayers invoking Jesus Christ does not pass constitutional muster.

It is our information and understanding that denominational prayers routinely open Common Council meetings. The practice of allowing such prayers to open an official government meeting demonstrates the city's preference for Christianity and illegally promotes religion over non-religion."

The letter was written by Rebecca S. Kratz, the FFRF's staff attorney, and was received by the country clerk on Feb. 9.

Stephen F. Matty, the city attorney for La Crosse, said he has no problem looking into any communication like the letter from FFRF. He said he hasn't been able to analyze the matter yet.

"I'm not aware of any violation of La Crosse," Matty said.

In Marsh v. Chambers, the Supreme Court ruled that invocations are generally acceptable if they do not invoke a specific diety, they do not try to proselytize or convert the audience, and they do not disparage any other faith, said Kratz.

The city invites different religious leaders in the community to say the invocation, he said. "There's never been any preference for one religion over another or non-religion."

The invocations say something relating to giving the common council the wisdom to debate and to come up with a way to lead the city, said Matty.

In her letter, Kratz stated another reason FFRF is against prayer opening the meetings of governing bodies.

"This practice inappropriately alienates non-Christians and non-believers. Their efforts to participate in public meetings are adversely affected by these types of prayers, which turn non-believers and non-Christians into political outsiders of their own community and government. The constitutional rights of citizens to participate in government meetings such as the Common Council's meetings should not be predicated upon being subjected to Christian-based prayers."

The La Crosse Common Council hasn't had any time to consider the request as of yet, Matty said.

FFRF found out about the La Crosse Common Council's tradition when they received complaints from FFRF's members, Kratz said. These complaints are a result of a related incident concerning the Dodge County Board, she said.

Dean Fuller, a Dodge County supervisor, tried to tell the chairman that he opposed the prayers at the board meetings, said Kratz. His opposition was not well received so he asked FFRF to intervene, she said.

It's unusual for someone on a board to complain about its practices, Gaylor said. "It takes a brave person to speak out when they're on a government body." Fuller has received a lot of hateful mail, said Gaylor.

Supervisor Randy Grebel, whose invocation led to Fuller's complaint, told the La Crosse Tribune, "They're able to pray in Congress, and I don't know why we can't continue to do it here."

The foundation's involvement in the matter lead the board to open their meetings with a moment of silence instead of prayer, according to a La Crosse Tribune story.

"Having a moment of silence would cover anyone else in the room who wanted to pray the way they wanted. I hope they don't do away with the practice completely," Grebel told the La Crosse Tribune.

This change is only temporary, however. Kratz said, "It is unclear whether they're going to bring prayer back."