Chicago revises 9-11 ceremony after AU protest. (AU Bulletin).

An official ceremony in Chicago to commemorate the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which was originally announced as a government-sponsored religious service, was altered after concerns were raised by Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

On Aug. 29, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley issued a press announcement that detailed events planned for the city's remembrance of the Sept. 11 tragedies. Daley said the "centerpiece" of the city's events would be a mass recitation of "the Chicago Prayer of Hope, Unity and Remembrance," written at city request by prominent religious leaders of Chicago.

Daley's announcement suggested that the official city prayer would be printed and distributed by the government to a memorial ceremony audience. Complicating matters, Daley said Chicago public schools would be asked to suspend their normal activities "so students can share in the observance."

Americans United expressed concern that the city's planned Sept. 11 memorial ceremony fostered too much entanglement between religion and government.

"All of us were affected by the events of Sept. 11, but this flagrant mixing of church and state is inappropriate," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, AU's executive director. "The people of Chicago can choose to honor the victims of terrorism through voluntary worship, not city-sponsored religion."

AU's concerns prompted a letter from James Law, executive director of Daley's Office of Special Events. Law explained that Chicago ceremony would fully respect church-state separation. The "Chicago Prayer of Hope" Law said, would not be "sponsored" by the city, would not serve as an official city prayer, and no taxpayer funds would be used to print or distribute the prayer.

Moreover, Law wrote that children in the city's public schools would be observing a moment of silence, but assured Americans United that "school children will not be joining in any religious observance."