Resolution Number 63-10-14-1RESOLUTION NO. 63-10-14-1
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO EXPRESSING IST CONCERN AND
URGENTLY RECOMMENDING THE ENACTMENT OF AN AMEND-
MENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA SO AS TO PERMIT, AS DETERMINED BY THE LOCAL
SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE RECITATION OF NONDENOMINATIONAL
TYPE PRAYERS, ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS, IN THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS OF THIS COUNTRY
WHEREAS, the trend of events and the interpretative decisions of this
nation's high tribunals with respect to the recitation of prayers in the public
schools have occasioned this Council, and many of the citizens of the community,
to be concerned in a very real sense; and
WHEREAS, while this Council is unalterably of the belief that no person,
whehter he be adult or minor, should be subjected to the requirement of joining
in prayers of any character against his will, it is equally of the belief that
this privilege should not be denied or foreclosed to those who desire to partici-
pate; and
WHEREAS, this Council, by these presents, elects to place itself on record
as being of the confirmed view that in school districts which so desire, the
permitted recitation of nondenominational type prayers of petition and thanksgiving
to a Supreme Being in the country's public schools would serve as a strong and
effective measure for good and a deterent to the insidious spread of crime, atheism,
communism and materialism among our nation's youth; and
WHEREAS, although coming at a time somewhat removed from those days of
historic decision and the infant flourishing of this great republic, it is felt
that the recommendation herein made and the principle involved are as vital and
fundamental as any of those considered and acted upon by our funding fathers in
the formulation of the Constitution, and merit the earnest and forthright consider-
ation of the members of the legislative and executive branches of our national
and state governments;
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of San Juan Capistrano, California,
resolves as follows:
SECTION 1: That this City Council urgently advocates and recommends the
enactment of an amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America which
will permit the recitation, as determined by the local school districts, of non-
denominational type prayers to a Supreme Being, on a voluntary basis, in the public
schools of this country.
SECTION 2: The City Clerk shall prepare certified copies of this resolution
and shall forthwith transmit a copy to each of the persons, governmental depart-
300
ments, agencies and organizations as the Mayor and City Council may deem appro-
priate in the circumstances.
ADOPTED this 14th day of October, 1963.
Mayor of the City of
San Juan Capistrano
ATTEST:
City Clerk of the City of
San Juan Capistrano
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO )
I, ERNEST A. THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of San Juan Capistrano,
California, hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of a
Resolution of the City Council of said City numbered 63-10-14-1, adopted by the
City Council of said City on the 14th day of October, 1963, and was so passed
and adopted by the following stated vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEN. BUCHHEIM, CLIFF, DURNFORD, OLIVARES and BATHGATE
NOES: COUNCILMEN: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEN: NONE
and was thereafter on said day signed and approved by the Mayor of said City.
City Clerk of the City of
San Juan Capistrano