separation of church and state? what does that mean? our kids can't pray in school, but the city council can?

The decision by Hartford, Conn., leaders to begin kicking off their council meetings with a Koranic prayer -- in a show of solidarity with Muslims -- led to a busy morning Wednesday for staff members who were bombarded by hate mail overnight.

"All night long, the e-mails have been coming," Petrel Maylor, an executive assistant to Council President rJo Winch, told FoxNews.com. "I've been called everything except a child of God."

Winch, who was holding a news conference Wednesday to explain the change in invocations, gave her blessing to Muslim prayer in a press release Tuesday.

"I feel it is very important that, as a council, we project a culture of inclusiveness in the city of Hartford," Winch said in the release. "Too often it is our differences that divide us. In my opinion, it is our combination of differences that makes us strong."

Council leaders decided they would invite local imams "to perform the invocations at beginning of the council meetings in September," a break from the typical start of meetings with Christian prayers, or occasionally an invocation by a rabbi.


"One of the goals of the council is to give a voice to the many diverse peoples of the city, which is especially important given the recent anti-Islam events throughout the country," the press release said.

But critics say Hartford leaders are making an eternal mistake.

"If they check their history, we're a Christian nation," said Pat McEwen, a spokeswoman for Operation Save America, an evangelical Christian group. "For years, prayers just referred to God. I think breaking with that tradition is a bad idea."

McEwen told FoxNews.com Hartford leaders may be responding to the group's recent protests in front of mosques in Connecticut.

"I think they may have been offended but being offended is much less hard than ending up in hell," McEwen told FoxNews.com. "Those who are thinking Mohammed is the way is wrong and they're going to have an awful shock. ... I think opening with Islamic prayer is opening up for more people to go straight to hell."

The use of Koranic verses to start government meetings isn't a foreign concept. In Dearborn, Mich. where there's a large Muslim population, city officials invite imams, rabbis and priests to deliver the invocations, depending on their availability. The U.S. House of Representatives invited an imam to give the convocation in November 2001.

Twice this year, the House started the workday with prayers from the Koran, said Anthony Wallace, a research analyst at the House Historian's office.

One group opposed to religious displays says the council has a legal right to include Muslim prayers at the start of meetings, even though it shouldn't.

"Now, I think no general body should start its sessions with any prayer," said Barry Lynn, executive director for Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "City council is supposed to make sure potholes get fixed and residents have the best cable service possible. They are not supposed to become pastors or religious officials in any way."

But Lynn called it "fundamental Christian hypocrisy" to oppose the use of Islamic texts.

"They have no problem as long as their prayers are prayed, but as soon as the next guy's prayers are uttered, they're outraged. This is a sad example of the intolerant hypocrisy of this still vibrant religious right," Lynn told FoxNews.com.

sad example of stupidity...

see, it's already starting...

It's been going on.
We just now getting light of it.
Those refugees need to be sent back to the Middle East.

Wow, sticking with the 1850 mentality?

what was wrong with 1850? seemed to work for them

It was during the large Irish migration and they were discriminated against based on their poverty status and Roman Catholic beliefs. Did everyone forget about this? There were signs in stores saying "No Irish need apply."

The point is ... immigration happens. America is a land of diversity and saying "Go back where you came from!" is an old mentality.

i don't have a problem with the irish... they are good peoples

Irish Immigrants didn't push their religion or cut off folk's heads.

Really, can't grasp why a woman would support a woman abusing occult.

Sadist, maybe?

they don't understand, shes only 22 years old... hopefully she won't have to learn the hard way

Ah HA!
So, you did eyeball her profile! Ya' pervert!!

And how are Muslims pushing their religion? Last time I checked, the last 10 or so people that told me I was going to hell were all Christians.

They aren't a "woman abusing occult", either. Once again, fed by the media. You can find lines in the Christian Bible supporting the stoning of women and that women are "lesser than men" ;

"Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." (I Timothy 2:11-14)"

Should I hate all Christians, too?

America is a progressive country and its structure made it easy for women to fight for their rights, whereas in Iran for example it's a bit harder to do this. It wasn't too long ago that women in the 1900's did not have the same rights as men and were treated as property ... so don't get too far up on your white shiny horse. Not to mention that most middle eastern countries do not qualify as developed nations and like many countries that do not fall into this category, their punishment for crimes are heinous and religious based.

My age has nothing to do with my ability to learn, but seeing how you have been unable to provide rebuttal for anything I say, I suppose you'll just have to hold onto it as your "victory". Congrats, I was born in 1987, victory is yours.

yea, shes kinda hot too!

be honest with ya, i don't care how they treat their women over there. but, whether you like it or not, i'll fight till i'm stone cold dead when they try that crap over here. it's just a matter of time, and when they do, like they are doing in France, India and England right now, i'll be ready.

Typical leftist hypocrites!!

yea, kids... they have a muslim friend, and then they know everything...

So, what are you doing to help women over here? There are still women being assaulted and raped and attacked here in this country, and many are quick to blame the way women dress here. She deserved what she got... I don't see nearly the amount of men willing to stand up and support women's basic rights, or helping build shelters and safe houses to get away from their abusives families and spouses, much less actually doing anything to stop abusive spouses and partners. Yet, ya'll are willing to claim it's not nearly as bad as over there. I can't say I feel be safe really going anyplace as a single woman. I do it, but am always hyper aware of what's going on around me because, in the end, one still can't trust men.

what do you want me to do? when i see it i act on it. its not like i see a woman getting raped every day, and i have taken women away from abusive husbands... men as a whole need to be more proactive in these issues. but do not forget, it's not our government that supports these issues either, just some stupid men with mental problems.