BY MARK SCHUMANN
As local ministers were meeting yesterday to consider their response to disrespectful and exclusivist comments made by Mayor Craig Fletcher and Vice Mayor Tracy Carroll at the June 4 City Council meeting, Fletcher wrote an email to the newspaper asking that an apology on his part be communicated to the public.
Later this afternoon, a letter from local religious leaders calling for dignity, civility and respect will be sent to Mayor Fletcher and City Council.
For her part in this sad story, Vice Mayor Tracy Carroll has so far remained silent.
Having grossly misrepresented the facts about Humanism and about the so-called “Thanksgiving proclamation,” Carroll owes the community an apology. There was no such “Thanksgiving proclamation.”
The earlier proclamation in question recognized Christian Heritage Week, was without any reference to Thanksgiving, and was not opposed by the local Humanist group.
What the Humanists of the Treasure Coast objected to, they say, was the proclamation’s sponsorship by the American Family Association, an organization the Southern Poverty Law Center has identified as a hate group.
In describing the Humanist Recognition Week proclamation as one acknowledging “atheist week,” Carroll based her opposition on religious and philosophical grounds, as did Fletcher, though the Mayor was more direct about it, or at least he expressed his objection in a more quotable sound bite.
At least Fletcher has offered a belated apology. Vice Mayor Carroll is no less in the wrong, though she remains silent.
Indian River Guardian 
Were she to apologize, it would most likely be insincere and for political reasons alone. The less we hear from her the better.
In this country we have freedom of religion. That means we also have freedom from religion. How can anyone not recognize all different religions or one’s lack thereof? No single religion can be the “right” one.
There are allot of definitions for humanism, look at Joe Beck’s (Philip Katrovitz is a member) Humanist website and decide for yourself: http://www.meetup.com/Humanists-of-the-Treasure-Coast/events/14385231/
Looks like he wants to get the “Jesus Saves” tires removed from state road 60. Those tires have only been there for maybe thirty years, perhaps put there in part due to the loss of Adam Walsh’s son. Who knows?, but again, if Joe Beck is so interested in freedom of speech and religion or non-religion in his case how come he is such a hypocrite? Humanist? Seems like there are allot of defintions to choose from, kind of like “Planned Parenthood”. I suspect Fletcher and Carroll were spot on.