Americans United Urges Appeals Court to Strike Down the National Day of Prayer

[Skip_In_Boulder]

Why is the administration trying to keep us in the business of prayer?

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has asked a federal appeals court to find the congressionally mandated National Day of Prayer unconstitutional. In April, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb of the Western District of Wisconsin ruled that the federal law violates the constitutional separation of church and state. The Obama administration has appealed Crabb’s decision to the 7th Circuit.

In a friend-of-the-court brief filed with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Americans United urged the panel of judges to affirm a lower court decision that held the National Day of Prayer statute unconstitutional.

(snip)

Congress created the National Day of Prayer in 1952. In 1988, after pressure from the Religious Right, it was codified as the first Thursday in May. The law directs the president to proclaim on that day that Americans “May turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.”

http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2010/10/appeals-court-should-strike.html



The Statue of Liberation Through Christ
Located at World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church in Memphis TN.

"When Fascism come to America it will be wrapped in an American flag and carrying a cross" Sinclair Lewis

[nashville_brook]

1. wow -- unrecs on this already? guess we have some fans of church-run government.

[ixion]

2. the article is bad press for the WH

hence the political hacks come out of the woodwork.

[nashville_brook]

3. it's too bad the WH is on the wrong side of this. and i'm glad there's actually

non pod-people who can still *openly* talk about issues that need to be addressed EVEN THOUGH the WH doesn't have our back.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

10. They come in all shapes and sizes these days. n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. It seems to me that as Americans

“May turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.” any day of the week, month and year, and the government has no authority to prevent them from doing so, the government likewise has no authority to encourage them to do so. It is a clear violation of church and state for the state to advocate for religion.

[nashville_brook]

6. eggsactly. National Day of Prayer was a C-Street (American Taliban) action -- why support it?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/14/rachel-maddow-draws-fire_n_231538.html

[frogmarch]

5. How about a Nat'l Day of No Prayer

in which the President proclaims that no one should turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, or as individuals?

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is on Facebook, and even there I see "what does having a nat'l day of prayer hurt?" and "all the fuss over a nat'l day of prayer is much ado about nothing" comments.

[blondeatlast]

7. This proud Christian says get rid of it. I can pray anytime and anywhere I want to

as long as I do it without disturbing others. I'm going threough a difficult personal time and I have quite often lately; it's a comfort.

Quietly, privately, and with dignity--you know, like I read about in The Book of Matthew.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

8. I am sorry you are having a rough time of it now

And prayer and meditation can be a great comfort during those times. But as you point out it is a quiet private matter not something you need the state motivating you toward compliance.

Thanks for your post.

[kath]

9. Yet another constitutional issue that this administration is on the WRONG side of.

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[Warren DeMontague]

11. Time to donate to AU again.

:thumbsup:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

12. Why do we have a National Cathedral, for that matter?

:wtf: