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Public commenter questions prior Hindu invocation; mayor defends inclusive practice
Summary
At the May 13 Goose Creek City Council meeting, Susan Vullo asked whether an April 8 meeting included a Hindu invocation and urged the council to pray only to the Lord; the mayor responded that the city permits diverse invocations under constitutional norms and thanked her for speaking.
A public commenter raised questions at the Goose Creek City Council meeting on May 13 about the council's past invocation practices, prompting a response from the mayor about religious inclusion in the city's meetings.
Susan Vullo told the council she had read a notice saying an April 8 session opened with a Hindu invocation and asked, "Is that correct?" She said the practice made her uncomfortable and cited scripture, saying, "Exodus 23 says, you shall have no other gods before me," and urging the council to pray to the Lord on the city's behalf.
The mayor responded directly to her concerns, thanking Vullo for speaking and saying the city follows constitutional limitations on prayer at public meetings. The mayor stated the practical approach is to permit invocations by different faith leaders rather than to restrict who may pray, saying, "if we're going to pray, and it has been my determination that we are going to pray, then you gotta let folks pray." He added that invocations given at meetings had emphasized peace and wisdom.
No formal policy change was proposed or voted on during the meeting; the exchange occurred during the public comment and opening portions of the meeting and closed with the mayor thanking the commenter for raising the issue.
