NDR Media Coverage

Reason or Religion

Depending on whom you ask, today is the Day of Prayer, the Day of Reason... or Prank the Mayor Day. Nationally, it's the Day of Prayer, with observances here in the Lowcountry that include at least three dozen churches gathering at 6:30 p.m. at Citadel Square Baptist Church to pray for the country.

But Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. wasn't thinking about that a few weeks back when he signed a proclamation making this the Day of Reason in Charleston.

And though atheist Herb Silverman knew the dates conflicted, he wasn't exactly pointing that out when he submitted the request to Riley through the S.C. Progressive Network, an umbrella group of activist causes.

Riley, whose office signs as many as 300 proclamations a year at the request of citizens, said he had no idea the dates conflicted or he would not have signed it.

Silverman last made headlines when his humanist invocation at a recent City Council meeting prompted a walkout by several council members.

City Councilman Kwadjo Campbell will read the Day of Reason proclamation today at 5:30 at Marion Square during a gathering of those opposed to the mixing of government and religion.

Copyright 2003 The Charleston Post and Courier

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