Why will President Barack Obama recognize the National Day of Prayer even after a U.S. District Judge in Wisconsin ruled that the annual National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional?
Thursday U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb struck down the federal statute that established the National Day of Prayer, ruling that it violates the constitutional ban on government-backed religion.
Despite the ruling, the Obama administration said in a Twitter message on Thursday that Obama intends to recognize this year's National Day of Prayer, which is May 6.
Obama, a constitutional scholar himself, must know Judge Crabb was correct in her ruling. Crabb wrote in her ruling (excerpt):
It goes beyond mere "acknowledgment" of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function in this context. In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience
One might argue that the National Day of Prayer does not violate the establishment clause because it does not endorse any one religion. Unfortunately, that does not cure the problem. Although adherents of many religions "turn to God in prayer," not all of them do.
Further, the statute seems to contemplate a specifically Christian form of prayer with its reference to "churches" but no other places of worship and the limitation in the 1952 version of the statute that the National Day of Prayer may not be on a Sunday. Even some who believe in the form of prayer contemplated by the statute may object to encouragements to pray in such a public manner. E.g., Matthew 6:5 ("You, however, when you pray, go into your private room and, after shutting your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; then your Father who looks on in secret will repay you.").
A government that can tell you to pray is a government that can force you not to pray, or mandate how you will pray. The National Day of Prayer is a bad precedent, and bad medicine for a country already infested with irrational, radical, religious zealots.
Whether Obama is motivated by political expediency, or a sincere belief in the veracity of prayer makes no difference. His decision to recognize and honor a National Day of Prayer is wrong.
The National Day of Prayer is a clear violation of the Establishment Clause to the First Amendment of the US Constitution. For President Obama to assert otherwise is not only wrong, but deeply disappointing.
Comments
Why will President Barack Obama recognize the National Day of Prayer even after a U.S. District Judge in Wisconsin ruled that the annual National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional?
Uhhh Mikey. The Judge stayed her own decision. Very common. Especially from one judge who knows she will be overturned at the next step or two.
Mr Stone writes "A government that can tell you to pray is a government that can force you not to pray, or mandate how you will pray."
A government that can tell you to buy a product or service is a government that can force you not to pray, or mandate how you will pray.
Think hard about that Mike.
Man Mikey keeps writing about the same thing because he got a lot of clicks for change in the original article. Looks like Stoney is running low on money for weed.
dude, you are an idiot. have a nice day. God Bless. :D
Folks, the judge did not find the President's CHOICE to declare a National Day of Prayer unconstitutional. The judge found a federal law, passed by Congress, FORCING the President to declare this day, as unconstitutional. Remember, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or restricting the free exercise thereof..." You right wingers want to portray atheism as a "religion," well guess what, it therefore gets equal time for "free exercise" now.
Obama, now given the CHOICE to declare this day, chose to.
This is not rocket science, people!
if anyone noticed they quoted the bible wrong !!! first its the wrong verse its matthew 6:6 "But whenever you pray, go into your room,close the door,and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you"
not- "You, however, when you pray, go into your private room and, after shutting your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; then your Father who looks on in secret will repay you."
The Judge is an idiot who has perverted the Constitution. The day of prayer is certainly Constitutional. In fact, the denial of this infringes on free speech. You cannot silence prayer.
And of course, it is built on a strawman - if this sourpuss wants to ignore the day of prayer. ... he can do so, just as he can ignore National Pineapple-Fruit-Basket-Day or Columbus Day if he so chooses... but being a militant atheist is to hold ugly, angry grudges against common sense and decency.
The author of this piece hates the very principles this nation was founded upon. Has he not read Washington's prayer of Thanksgiving?
Why do such self-hating fools exist? Why do they hate what is good?
You just want to go up to such idiots and say - God Bless & Merry Christmas!
Does anybody really know why America started? Christians wanting the freedom to pray and worship...In God we trust is still on our money most work weeks are mon-friday and not sunday because that was a day made for church...I mean really do you people understand what you are trying to get rid of? I may not like it at all ,but i am taught to respect the law of the land; so whatever they want to take away is fine it doesn't matter in the end i am on the winning side i know my place and may you all find God and let you him bless you the way he has me...
one more thing... what does every court swear on to tell whole truth and nothing but the truth? what is that little book..oh thats right THE BIBLE... kinda ironic...lol
Kristine says: You right wingers want to portray atheism as a "religion,"
The 1st Amendment bars the government from the "establishment of religion". Holding a day of prayer in any reasonable mind, cannot be considered an "establishment" of any religion, but a recognition of all religions!
How many volcanoes does it take to cancel a Polish funeral?
Pilgrims came to this country to escape the tyranny of those who would suppress their choice to worship as they please. The separation of church and state was adopted to prevent such a thing from happening. Instead it has been morphed into a campaign to suppress all expressions of religion, because we might offend those around us. Atheists want to abolish religion all together, not because of who we are, but because of what we stand for. They never tire of rambling on about those who have perverted our beliefs and broken God's law. Zealot's are what they call us, because it's easier than looking in the mirror and facing their conscience they have tried to suppress for so long. Hey, why don't you guys just get a National Day of Atheists and we'll call it even. If not maybe it's you who are the Zealots.
As the first commenter has already pointed out, the judge stated in her decision that the injunction against enforcement of the National Day of Prayer takes effect at the conclusion of any appeals filed by defendants, or the expiration of the defendants' deadline for filing an appeal.
I see the usual arguments here as well. This decision is not trying to silence prayer. As Mr. Stone correctly points out, the same power which can be used to encourage prayer can also be used to discourage it. Government and religion don't mix well.
Common sense: Um, atheists aren't trying to banish religion but have the government neutral on religion. Your statement seems to be common on the Christian right. Why, I am not sure because no atheists or humanists actually state or try to do such things. All we want is government neutrality
You #@$!s have got to realize that virtually all of the founding fathers were Christians and if these %$#@s actually read the constitution you would realize that it says nil about this and all the evidence that you left wing #@!$s have is seperation of church and state which simply says that the government cannot favor one religon over another. Why don't you all @#$% your own ^%$#ing !@#$$%^&&s!!!!!!
I hate athiests, you are exactly 100% right!!!! Left wing #@!$s need to jump in a lake!!!
why would our president listen to one #@!$ing judge?
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