Atheists are outraged that a Bible sits right next to the mayor’s desk, inside a Pinellas Park City Council chamber, and they’re demanding its removal.
City officials, however, say that’s a no-go. The Bible’s been there for more than 30 years, and laws don’t prohibit its presence, The Blaze reported. The book was an Oct. 19, 1975, gift to council members from the Kiwanis club, and it’s been a traditional fixture ever since.
Freedom From Religion Foundation officials say they don’t care. They sent a letter to city officials, saying the Bible needs to go because it violates the principle of separation of church and state.
“It’s on display. And that certainly is improper,” said president Annie Laurie Gaylor, in The Blaze. She added: What if it was the Koran? “It shows an endorsement of the Bible as a holy book over other holy books.”
The government relations administrator for the city, Tim Caddell, said nobody has ever filed a grievance.
“We’ve not had complaints from residents, from people who participated,” he said, in The Blaze.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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