Georgia Senior Citizens Forbidden to Pray at Meals
Senior citizens at a Port Wentworth, Georgia senior citizen facility have been forbidden to pray. At least, they have been forbidden to pray at meals that have been provided by Senior Citizens, Inc.
Senior citizen visitors at the Ed Young Senior Citizens Center have been instructed that they cannot pray before their meals due to a federal guideline. According to the Vice President of Senior Citizens, Inc., Tim Rutherford, they are contracted by the City of Port Wentworth to provide meals to the elderly and, because those meals are paid for with mostly federal money, they cannot pray before meals. These meals, which consist of baked chicken, steak tips, rice, and salads, typically cost approximately $6 per plate. Seniors pay 55 cents per meal and federal funding absorbs the remainder of the cost.
Rutherford instituted a moment of silence before the meal rather than allow the seniors to pray aloud and offend federal authorities.
The Mayor of Port Wentworth is searching for an alternative, which may include cancelling the contract with Senior Citizens, Inc.
