Florida City Leaders Walk Out on Atheist 'Prayer'

News Staff : Dec 17, 2014
CBN.com

"Free speech works both ways. You can say what you want and I can choose to leave."

(Florida)—[CBN News] A group of Florida city leaders walked out of a meeting in opposition to a controversial prayer, Tuesday. (Photo via Christian Post)

Mayor Pam Triolo and three city commissioners left the Lake Worth city commission meeting before atheist Preston Smith began his prayer.

Smith opened his prayer by addressing mother earth and then "the righteousness of Allah with the all-knowing wisdom of Satan."

He went on to invoke Zeus, Jesus, Buddha, Krishna and Thor.

In response to critics, the mayor said she didn't leave because Smith is an atheist; she left because of an alleged tweet.

Triolo accuses Smith of tweeting an offensive interpretation of scripture several months ago.

She expected his prayer would be equally offensive.

"Free speech works both ways," she said. "You can say what you want and I can choose to leave."

After the video went public, a satanist sent a letter to the same city council requesting permission to give a satanic prayer.