[NYTr] Chandler, AZ Uses Taxpayer Money for a "Prayer Breakfast"

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

[Oh, for Gawd's sake. No Muslims, Buddhists, or Pagans need apply to
Pray over the breakfast, either. Maybe they only collect taxes from
Christians, Jews and Mormons.  This should not be permitted at all, in
deference to the First Amendment, and the city's atheists. -NYTr]

Arizona Republic - Oct 19, 2007
http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/1019cr-prayer1020.html

City's funding of prayer breakfast questioned

by Edythe Jensen

[The city of] Chandler's $1,000 contribution to "A Morning of Prayer"
breakfast Nov. 8 at the Chandler/Gilbert YMCA has some questioning the
use of taxpayer money for a religious event - and why the prayers will
be delivered only by Christians and Jews.

The city's diverse population includes Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus.
Arif Kazmi, a member of the Chandler Human Relations Commission and a
Muslim leader, said he wasn't told about the prayer breakfast and would
have liked to have been invited. "We don't want to impose, but there
are many religious groups in this wonderful city and we hope they
consider us next time," he said.

The 7 a.m. breakfast is one of 14 events to get municipal grants this
year but the only one with a religious theme. Chandler Mayor Boyd Dunn
and Gilbert Mayor Steve Berman are speakers, but Gilbert is not
contributing money, said organizer Rick Montondo. Public admission is
$15, and sponsors include Catholic Healthcare West.

"It doesn't include every religious sect, but it's really quite
diverse," Dunn said.

Catholic and Protestant clergy, a Mormon stake president and a rabbi
are on the program. The city tries to help a variety of organizations
with special event funding and wouldn't exclude one because it has
religious implications, he said. "The agenda focuses on supporting
strong kids, strong communities and strong families," Dunn said.

Marc Victor, a Chandler attorney and local spokesman for the national
Freedom From Religion Foundation, disagreed.

"Government shouldn't be funding a prayer day. It's unfair to taxpayers
who don't believe," he said. "Maybe we should get money for a 'no
prayer' day."

Councilman Martin Sepulveda defended the city's funding but said the
event should include all faiths. "There's nothing wrong with public
prayer, but if the city is going to sponsor a prayer breakfast, then it
should include everybody," he said.