The Mid-Hudson Times reported that the Newburgh City Council voted to remove prayer from its meetings. Councilwoman and Buddhist, Romana Monteverde said prayer doesn’t sit right with her and she would actually like for “someone to explain why we have to pray at the beginning of the meeting.” Allow me to do so.

On September 7, 1774 our founders gathered for the first time to bring about the birth of this nation. They began with two hours of prayer and Bible reading. Fifteen times during the War for Independence the people were called to prayer and fasting. When they gathered to write the Constitution they came to an impasse until elder statesman, Ben Franklin, not a Christian, suggested they stop to pray. Only then were they able to proceed.

So you see, Ms. Monteverde, prayer has historically been the means for our leaders to acquire the wisdom that produced this great nation “under God.” Yes, we the people, may choose to discard prayer, but if we do we also discard the favor of God. After all, our national motto is not “In We The People We Trust.” It is “In God We Trust.” Learn from our history; safeguard our future.