{"id":2968,"date":"2013-06-16T16:29:22","date_gmt":"2013-06-16T16:29:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/?p=2968"},"modified":"2013-06-16T16:40:59","modified_gmt":"2013-06-16T16:40:59","slug":"wnep-tv-16-article-man-objects-to-prayers-before-city-council-meetings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/2013\/06\/16\/wnep-tv-16-article-man-objects-to-prayers-before-city-council-meetings\/","title":{"rendered":"WNEP-TV 16 article: &#8220;Man Objects To Prayers Before City Council Meetings&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_2921\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/wb-prayer.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2921\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2921\" alt=\"&quot;Man Objects To Prayers Before City Council Meetings&quot; c\/o WNEP TV-16\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/wb-prayer-300x168.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/wb-prayer-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/wb-prayer.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2921\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">&#8220;Man Objects To Prayers Before City Council Meetings&#8221; c\/o WNEP TV-16<\/p><\/div>\n<p>WNEP-TV writer Julia Melf authored an article titled &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/wnep.com\/2013\/06\/14\/man-objects-to-prayers-before-city-council-meetings\/\">Man Objects To Prayers Before City Council Meetings<\/a>&#8221; concerning my June 13, 2013 address to Wilkes-Barre City Council objecting to government-led prayer urging council to remove prayer from future meetings.<\/p>\n<p>The comment section &#8212; with more than 120 comments &#8212; includes individuals asserting I secretly hate America, saying I should leave the United States because I am not welcome, telling me to &#8220;shut up and listen&#8221; to prayer, and suggesting I ought to leave council meetings (or not attend) if I object to prayer.<\/p>\n<p>For more information pertaining to my objection to council prayer, read my <a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/2013\/06\/15\/wbprayer\/\">extensive analysis<\/a>.\u00a0Those who have not viewed my address to Wilkes-Barre City Council ought to watch the below video:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Justin Vacula objects to prayer at Wilkes-Barre City Council meeting - June 14, 2013\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5fjFxZJpF_s?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Consider also watching an audio version of the WNEP-TV reporting:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Justin Vacula on WNEP-TV 16 - June 14, 2013\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BQ-44LzqIys?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Text of the article follows:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>WILKES-BARRE \u2014 An objection was made Thursday night at the Wilkes-Barre city council meeting over the council\u2019s use of prayer before meetings.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>After the pledge of allegiance was recited and the weekly prayer was read, Justin Vacula stood up to make his case to city council.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Vacula, a self-proclaimed atheist, is the co-organizer and spokesperson for the NEPA Freethought Society and said although the act of prayer has been a long standing tradition at council meetings, government officials should leave prayer to individuals and refrain from leading prayer at council meetings.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Wilkes-Barre City Council President Bill Barrett said the board would get back to Vacula on the matter.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"attachment_2994\" style=\"width: 297px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_291-Jun.-16-12.13.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2994\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2994\" alt=\"&quot;City Council Agenda&quot; Note that prayer is not included on the agenda, yet it comes directly after the Pledge - all during, not before, the meeting.\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_291-Jun.-16-12.13-287x300.jpg\" width=\"287\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_291-Jun.-16-12.13-287x300.jpg 287w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_291-Jun.-16-12.13.jpg 483w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 287px) 100vw, 287px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2994\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">&#8220;City Council Agenda&#8221;<br \/>Note that prayer is not included on the agenda, yet it comes directly after the Pledge &#8211; all during, not before, the meeting.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>This article was one of the first media reports concerning my objection to government-led prayer at Wilkes-Barre City Council meetings. The reporting was a decent short piece although the title appears to be misleading; prayer does not occur before council meetings, but rather occurs\u00a0<strong>during<\/strong> council meetings &#8211; after the [&#8220;one nation under God&#8221;] Pledge of Allegiance which is prominently included as the first agenda item. For whatever reason, prayer &#8212; although it occurs during council meetings and is lead by <strong>Councilwoman Maureen Lavelle<\/strong> &#8212; is <strong>absent<\/strong> from the agenda.<\/p>\n<p>The WNEP TV-16 article allowed for open discussion through commenting enabled on the article. Many secularists and individuals appearing to be theists joined the comment section which, this afternoon, has 125 comments. Secularists provided insightful comments while many who appear to be theists largely did not.<\/p>\n<p>Following are some comments accompanying the article:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_282-Jun.-16-11.38.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2970\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_282 Jun. 16 11.38\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_282-Jun.-16-11.38-300x43.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"43\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_282-Jun.-16-11.38-300x43.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_282-Jun.-16-11.38.jpg 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Seems to me you want to limit other peoples free thought&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_283-Jun.-16-11.38.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2971\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_283 Jun. 16 11.38\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_283-Jun.-16-11.38-300x39.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"39\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_283-Jun.-16-11.38-300x39.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_283-Jun.-16-11.38.jpg 468w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;I WOULD OF TOLD THIS PERSON 2\/REMOVE HIMSELF TIL THE PRAYER WAS OVRA&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_283-Jun.-16-11.39.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2972\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_283 Jun. 16 11.39\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_283-Jun.-16-11.39-300x64.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"64\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_283-Jun.-16-11.39-300x64.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_283-Jun.-16-11.39.jpg 470w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;This is how they inject excitement into their otherwise dreary and ordinary lives.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_284-Jun.-16-11.39.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2973\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_284 Jun. 16 11.39\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_284-Jun.-16-11.39-300x52.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"52\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_284-Jun.-16-11.39-300x52.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_284-Jun.-16-11.39.jpg 470w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Tell him to stand in the hall until after the prayer is said and then enter the meeting if he is so against prayer!!!!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_285-Jun.-16-11.40.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2974\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_285 Jun. 16 11.40\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_285-Jun.-16-11.40-300x54.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"54\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_285-Jun.-16-11.40-300x54.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_285-Jun.-16-11.40.jpg 473w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em id=\"__mceDel\">&#8220;&#8230;GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE ! NEPA FREETHOUGHT SOCIETY SHOULD BE BANNED&#8230;&#8230;.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_286-Jun.-16-11.40.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2975\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_286 Jun. 16 11.40\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_286-Jun.-16-11.40-300x53.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"53\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_286-Jun.-16-11.40-300x53.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_286-Jun.-16-11.40.jpg 459w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Tell him to stay out of the meeting room till the prayer is finished.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_284-Jun.-16-11.40.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2978\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_284 Jun. 16 11.40\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_284-Jun.-16-11.40-300x51.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"51\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_284-Jun.-16-11.40-300x51.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_284-Jun.-16-11.40.jpg 470w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a>&#8220;Tell him not to go to the Council meetings or better yet go back to where he comes from ! This is America! Home of the free and land of the brave ! Jackass&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_286-Jun.-16-11.41.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2979\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_286 Jun. 16 11.41\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_286-Jun.-16-11.41-300x53.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"53\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_286-Jun.-16-11.41-300x53.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_286-Jun.-16-11.41.jpg 473w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Tell that guy if he doesn&#8217;t want to hear the prayer then don&#8217;t go to the meetings or at least attend after the prayer is read. There is always somebody that wants to upset the apple cart. I personally think it should be read.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_287-Jun.-16-11.41.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2980\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_287 Jun. 16 11.41\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_287-Jun.-16-11.41-300x113.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_287-Jun.-16-11.41-300x113.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_287-Jun.-16-11.41.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;You and his kind, just like deleting traditions from society and probably secretly hate the U.S. Go live in Iran&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_287-Jun.-16-11.42.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2981\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_287 Jun. 16 11.42\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_287-Jun.-16-11.42-300x51.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"51\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_287-Jun.-16-11.42-300x51.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_287-Jun.-16-11.42.jpg 472w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If you don&#8217;t like prayer don&#8217;t participate but don&#8217;t take away other peoples rights to pray&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_288-Jun.-16-11.42.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2982\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_288 Jun. 16 11.42\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_288-Jun.-16-11.42-300x75.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"75\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_288-Jun.-16-11.42-300x75.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_288-Jun.-16-11.42.jpg 466w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;Waste even more time and resources by making it an unnecessary political issue&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_288-Jun.-16-11.43.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2983\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_288 Jun. 16 11.43\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_288-Jun.-16-11.43-300x215.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"215\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_288-Jun.-16-11.43-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_288-Jun.-16-11.43.jpg 369w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;I just dont see how anyone that does not believe in something has any hope&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_288-Jun.-16-11.44.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2984\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_288 Jun. 16 11.44\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_288-Jun.-16-11.44-300x145.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"145\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_288-Jun.-16-11.44-300x145.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_288-Jun.-16-11.44.jpg 473w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;If you do not believe in God, then you do not have to take part in the prayer. Just sit quietly until it is over. It is not as if someone is putting a gun to your head and forcing you to pray to a God that you don&#8217;t believe it, because their not&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_289-Jun.-16-11.44.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2985\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_289 Jun. 16 11.44\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_289-Jun.-16-11.44-300x202.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_289-Jun.-16-11.44-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_289-Jun.-16-11.44.jpg 472w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;If you object to a prayer being said at the beginning of the meeting, wait outside till it is done and you won&#8217;t have to listen. I&#8217;m tired of the ppl who think their right to not believe is the law of the land&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_289-Jun.-16-11.45.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2986\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_289 Jun. 16 11.45\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_289-Jun.-16-11.45-300x120.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"120\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_289-Jun.-16-11.45-300x120.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_289-Jun.-16-11.45.jpg 469w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;If your an atheist then you have the right to leave the room while prayer is being said. Stop crying about it. No one is forcing you to sit and listen or shoving anything down your throat you do not believe in&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_290-Jun.-16-11.45.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2987\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_290 Jun. 16 11.45\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_290-Jun.-16-11.45-300x182.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"182\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_290-Jun.-16-11.45-300x182.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_290-Jun.-16-11.45.jpg 369w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;that man could have left if he didn&#8217;t want to hear it&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_291-Jun.-16-11.46.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2988\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_291 Jun. 16 11.46\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_291-Jun.-16-11.46-300x55.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"55\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_291-Jun.-16-11.46-300x55.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_291-Jun.-16-11.46.jpg 473w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;Tell him to sit down, shut up and listen to the meeting. If he has anything constructive to add to the decorum, then it shall be duly noted, otherwise, SHUT UP&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_290-Jun.-16-11.46.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2989\" alt=\"ScreenHunter_290 Jun. 16 11.46\" src=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_290-Jun.-16-11.46-300x76.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"76\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_290-Jun.-16-11.46-300x76.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/files\/2013\/06\/ScreenHunter_290-Jun.-16-11.46.jpg 475w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As always, feel free to leave your comments below.<\/p>\n<p>Consider also commenting on <a href=\"http:\/\/wnep.com\/2013\/06\/14\/man-objects-to-prayers-before-city-council-meetings\/\">the WNEP-TV 16 article<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Add your voice to the discussion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WNEP-TV writer Julia Melf authored an article titled &#8220;Man Objects To Prayers Before City Council Meetings&#8221; concerning my June 13, 2013 address to Wilkes-Barre City Council objecting to government-led prayer urging council to remove prayer from future meetings. The comment section &#8212; with more than 120 comments &#8212; includes individuals asserting I secretly hate America, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64,16,22,25,30,32,38,40,48,53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-council-prayer","category-government","category-local","category-me-in-the-media","category-my-appearances","category-nepa-freethought-society","category-politics","category-prayer","category-separation-of-church-and-state","category-youtube"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2968","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2968"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2968\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2968"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2968"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}