The group atheists of Cranford, new Jersey, filed a lawsuit at the animal shelter Teterboro in Bergen County.
As reported NJ.com, the lawsuit alleges that the blessing of the animals Reverend Franciscan violates the first and 14th amendments of the U.S. Constitution.
The event with the blessing of the animals takes place at the shelter annually. Reverend Kenneth Reihl comes here and the shelter people come with their Pets – cats, puppies, rabbits…
As they say in the shelter is a tribute to the veneration of St. Francis of Assisi, considered the patron Saint of animals.
This year the initiative group of atheists have sent to the shelter Director’s request to cancel the event, but according to them, got no response. Then the activists decided to go to court.
According to the lawsuit, the shelter Teterboro operated by the County health Department and receives money from the state.
«I have lived in new Jersey for more than 20 years,» says David Silverman, President of the group «American atheists». «When I go to a government building, I believe that there should be neutrality on the religious question. And what happens in the shelter – the opposite of neutrality.»
The animal shelter declined to comment, citing the upcoming trial.
