Say one thing for Warren's Mayor Jim Fouts--he's a feisty fella!
Once again, Mayor Fouts this week took on the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a group from Wisconsin that sees praying on public property as a a government-sponsored violation of the separation of church and state. Fouts pooh-poohed the idea, shooting back that anyone can participate.
In fact, Fouts turns the tables on this organization by maintaining that freedom of assembly and the ability to express one's faith is a cornerstone of our democracy.
This is not the first time, and probably will not be the last time, that this group raises objections to Warren's "National Day of Prayer" and the nativity scene that goes up each Christmas. Anyone can rent the space, so it should be no big deal. The issue for the foundation is that the city notifies its residents of the rentals of the space though government instruments like utility bills. Doing that, they say, is akin to government sponsorship of religion.
Fouts' position is that this is government at its best when it gets out of the way of the public's right to access their own property.
Well, done, Mayor Fouts!
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