Four Florida city officials, including the mayor, reportedly walked out while an atheist led a prayer in a commission meeting, last Tuesday.
In the report, Mayor Pam Triolo and three city commissioners decided not to hear the prayer of atheist Preston Smith, during the Lake Worth City commission meeting.
According to the report by CBN, Triolo decided to walk out not just because of the controversial prayer, but allegedly because of an offensive tweet by Smith.
In the tweet, Smith reportedly wrote an offensive interpretation of scripture a few months ago. In a report by the Sun Sentinel, Smith commented on President Barack Obama's teen daughter and cited Deuteronomy 22: 28-29, mentioning that anyone who rapes a virgin should marry her.
Mayor Triolo thought that the prayer would be 'equally offensive' and decided to walk out even before Smith opened his mouth.
In a video of the actual invocation, Smith invokes the names of Allah, Buddha, Krishna, Jesus, Satan, Thor and Zeus. He also praised the advancement of scientific evidence and critical thinking, and asked for a community where there are no religious divisions.
"Free speech works both ways," Triolo said. "You can say what you want and I can choose to leave."
Meanwhile, after the news broke out, a Satanist asked for permission to lead an invocation. Chaz Stevens, who introduced himself as the father of the Pabst Blue Ribbon Festivus Pole, emailed City Manager Michael Bornstein and asked whether he can lead an invocation too.
In his email, Stevens said that 'everyone is welcome to sing along...or as is the recent case...they can leave the building'.