Arkansas —
FFRF made sure that seniors at the McAuley Senior Center in Hot Springs, Ark., were no longer being forced to pray in order to receive their meals.
FFRF learned that employees at the center were organizing prayers before each meal. Additionally, seniors were expected to stand and were not being given food until the prayer had been delivered.
“Federal regulations prohibit senior centers receiving federal funding to engage in religious activities at government-sponsored functions,” FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Kyle J. Steinberg wrote to the senior center.
After investigating the situation, Executive Director Barbara Flowers confirmed that a new policy had been implemented to put a stop to the abusive and coercive practice taking place. A moment of silence policy was introduced, and, as part of the policy, Flowers confirmed that participation would be completely voluntary, and no specific form of reflection would be required or encouraged.
