When San Antonio City Council today stood for the prayer that routinely starts Council meetings, they were told not to bow their heads, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Nick Lee, a member of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, delivered what he called 'secular' invocation, which did not mention 'God' or ask for 'God's guidance,' as most City Council invocations do.
"As a secular humanist, I believe we have the power within ourselves, to solve life's challenges and problems within ourselves, through the power of logic, reason, compassion, and compromise," he said.
Lee was invited to deliver the 'secular invocation' by northwest side Councilwoman Ana Sandoval, who pointed out that Council has heard from Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu pastors at its invocation, but San Antonians who aren't members of organized faiths and who don't believe in God are city residents and taxpayers as well, and deserve to be recognized.
Several pastors stood behind Lee while he was delivering the invocation, to show their support for his secular invocation.