Do you know of people who use prayer as a coercive tool? [View All]

[Critters2]

This kind of thing really irks me. The high school teachers here are on strike, have been for a week today. It's caused quite a lot of conflict in the community. Last Friday the football game with the big rival school was canceled, as was a tennis match on Saturday. Also, on Saturday the band and choir kids were supposed to audition for district and all-state choir and band, but couldn't because of the strike.

Who's to blame depends on who you listen to. The board of ed wants teachers to contribute to their health insurance premiums for the first time ever, at $179.00 a month. They are not budging on this. The teachers union refuses to pay at all, and is also not budging. They're completely stalemated, and there's no end in sight without binding arbitration, it appears.

I have parishioners involved in both sides of negotiations and, former union steward though I am, have been doing my best to walk the fine line between both sides. So far so good. There's a little tension around church, especially at choir rehearsals. But generally, things are less tense at church than in the community in general.

So, yesterday at ministerial association, one of my colleagues suggests we all go as a group to the picket line and "pray, to get the teachers to end the strike". I was appalled. I don't pray to get people to do anything. And going to the picket line would turn "prayer" into a way of trying to make the teachers feel guilty.

There were several in attendance who thought this was a great idea, but saner heads prevailed. It was decided that we, as a group, had not taken a side in the strike and shouldn't. But the guy who proposed it and some others who like the idea were talking about going anyway. I have no idea if they did. I doubt it, because it seems like I would've heard about it.

What a strange way to use "prayer" (I can't call it that without quotes, because this is NOT what prayer is, imo). It really disgusts me that anyone would consider such behavior appropriate. Prayer is communion with God, not a way to manipulate humans into doing what you want.

Thanks for letting me rant!