MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - With the bow of their heads and a collective "Amen," the Memphis City Council seemed to be calling the Atheists' bluff.
"We are not feeling threatened at all," said Harold Collins, a Memphis City Council member.
On Tuesday, the City Council met for the first time since the Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation announced last month it planned to sue the City Council over its opening prayer. The Foundation says it thinks the prayer violates the separation of church and state.
"I'm almost certain the council will continue to have prayer before our meetings as we have done for many many, many years," said Collins.
That is exactly what the Council did on Tuesday, when it opened its meeting with a prayer.
"I know it is the right thing to do, prayer is the answer to solve all our problems that we do have," said Joe Collins, a Memphis City Council member.
The Foundation says it plans to sue the City soon, but hasn't said exactly when. This is the same group that threatened to sue DeSoto County Schools over prayers at football games, and tangled with the city of Whiteville, TN, over crosses on a city water tower.
City Council members say they'll be ready.
"I think this is a group looking for attention and they decided they would try and get attention from the Memphis City Council and the City of Memphis and if that is what they want, then they will get it," Collins said.
