Briefly noted
For decades, the Akron City Council opened its weekly meetings with the Lord’s Prayer. Council president Marco Sommerville said the practice “goes way, way back.” Recitation of the prayer was most likely meant to show citizens of the Ohio city that council members looked for outside guidance, he said. But after Americans United for Separation of Church and State threatened litigation, council members decided October 15 to instead pray privately before meetings. They’re also working on finding a nonsectarian prayer to replace the Christian prayer.