Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast draws 230 faithful

YOUNGSTOWN — With wit, insight and a challenge to her audience, Bishop Elizabeth Eaton explored the role of people of faith in America’s political process.

She was keynote speaker at Mahoning Valley Association of Churches’ 23rd annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Tuesday morning at the Maronite Center. Some 230 representatives of the religious community in the Mahoning Valley attended.

The leader of the Northeast Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America said people were probably feeling a little lost now that the election is decided. But, she noted, drawing a laugh, it probably won’t be long before the primaries start again, referring to the length of the last campaign.

Getting down to her topic, Bishop Eaton said, “The foundation of the country is based on religious freedom.” She quoted the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution — “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ....”

She noted separation of church and state means that the government can’t dictate people’s religious beliefs.

“Religion and politics go hand in hand ... this isn’t a new phenomena,” she said, noting that the very law that guarantees freedoms of the press, religion and speech entwines religion and politics. “No other country has as many religions as this country does.”

Read more in Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com