Atkins Time Out For Prayers

An article in today's Star discussing how business owner Jeanne Atkins leads her employees in voluntary prayer is not striking a responsive chord with Indiana's GLBT community, which is still fuming over her treatment of her gay son's partner of 25 years after her son was stricken by a severe stroke. "I thought we all need prayer in our lives," said [Adkins], adding that "participation is voluntary and those who don't attend aren't thought of any differently." This is the same woman who denied her son's lover visitation rights and said she would rather her son not recover from his stroke than return to a gay lifestyle with his partner of 25 years. As the Star's Katie Merlie explains the prayer practice at Atkins Elegant Desserts:

"I pray for my strength, my joy and my wisdom," said the member of St. Luke Catholic Church who is a devout Catholic and attends Mass daily. "Prayer is my
strength."

So at 3 p.m. each day -- which is between shifts and allows employees who are leaving for home or just starting their workday to participate -- a handful of her 150 workers gather in the lunchroom. Many are still wearing the white coats and hair protectors that are required dress on the production line. Several don't speak English so an interpreter translates Atkins' words into Spanish.

"You're making God's heart smile," Atkins told the 36 employees at the June 28 prayer time. The group read aloud a prayer titled "You Are Mine" in Spanish and English, and Atkins recited from a little blue book where names of those needing extra prayer are handwritten, sometimes with notes about their special need.

Joe Mazero, Atkins vice president of operations, often leads the prayer in the lunchroom where employees sit at tables or line the walls surrounding the room.

Jane Bernhardt started working for Atkins in October and has attended just about every prayer time.

"I believe in prayer and that prayer changes things," Bernhardt said. "It's a very important part of my life."

Before and after prayer time, Atkins stops and talks with employees about
events happening in their lives and encourages them to come to the next prayer time.

"When people tell me that our prayers have helped, I just love it," she said.

I can't believe Atkins made God's heart smile when she cut off her disabled son from the person he loved more than anyone else in this world. It's funny how some people of faith develop such a warped sense of family values. Hat tip to several AI readers who pointed the article out.