Calling on the Federal Communications Commission to continue to permit the broadcast of religious and spiritual radio and television programs.

WHEREAS, A 1985 campaign undertaken by atheist, Madeline Murray O'Hare, succeeded in banning the reading of the bible and the conduct of prayer in our nation's schools; and

WHEREAS, The Federal Communications Commission will shortly hear a new petition, number 2493, from the same organization; and

WHEREAS, The petition seeks to prohibit the reading of the bible on the airwaves of our country; and

WHEREAS, The petition also seeks to eliminate all seasonal programming of Christmas themes, songs and music from the airwaves, public schools and office buildings; and

WHEREAS, Ultimately, an affirmation of the petition, which now contains 287,000 signatures, will prohibit all Sunday worship services and limit the content of all other programs; and

WHEREAS, For a sizable number of our citizens these programs and services respond to a need for a religious and spiritual participation component in their lives; and

WHEREAS, Our American Heritage stands on a foundation of freedom of speech and expression; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Call on the Federal Communications Commission to reject Petition Number 2493.

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Council call on all Philadelphians to protest any steps by the Federal Communications Commission to prohibit the broadcast of religious and spiritual radio and television programs.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That Certified Copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Federal Communications Commission as an expression of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End