A Dallas-area atheist group wants equal time at a suburban city council meeting that begins with a religious invocation.
The group Metroplex Atheists has given Rowlett city officials 10 business days to respond to a request that two of its members get on the list of people authorized to give invocations.
The group's president, Randy Word, says he'd rather see no invocation. But he says if there's to be one, he wants his group eligible to deliver a secular message.
The town east of Dallas allows invocations from licensed clergy members from religious groups that meet inside the city.
City Attorney David Berman tells The Dallas Morning News the city probably won't respond to the letter. Mayor Todd Gottel says as long as he's in office, they'll pray.
