Downey : Prayer Breakfast Renamed

Under the threat of a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Downey City Council on Tuesday changed a proposed proclamation declaring Nov. 6 “Christian Rededication Day” to “A Day of Spiritual Rededication.”

Last week, an attorney for the ACLU threatened to seek a restraining order preventing the city from participating in the Downey Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast if the city did not disassociate itself from the event and change the proclamation. The breakfast is being sponsored by the Christian Businessmen’s Committee for Downey, according to Norman Sipple, president of the committee.

City officials also received a letter last week from the Anti-Defamation League denouncing the proclamation.

After a closed session, Mayor James Santangelo announced that the event will be called a “Community Prayer Breakfast” and the revised proclamation will be adopted at the Oct. 28 council meeting. Carol Sobel, an ACLU attorney in Los Angeles, said she was satisfied with the changes and would not seek legal action.