Oh
these crazy US judges. What will they
think of next? Diabolical!
U.S.
Court: National Day of Prayer is Unconstitutional
By
John Jalsevac
April
15, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com)
– In a decision
released Thursday, U.S. District Judge
Barbara B. Crabb declared the National
Day of Prayer unconstitutional. The
decision comes in the case filed by
The Freedom From Religion Foundation
(FFRF), a Wisconsin-based organization,
which challenged the constitutionality
of a 1988 federal law gi! ving the president
the authority to designate the first
Thursday in May as a National Day of
Prayer.
The
day of prayer "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," Crabb
wrote. "In this instance, the government
has taken sides on a matter that must
be left to individual conscience."
The
American Center for Law and Justice
(ACLJ) which represented 31 members
of Congress in an amicus brief defending
the National Day of Prayer, said that
the decision is flawed and expressed
confidence that it will be overturned.
"It is unfortunate that this court
failed to understand that a day set
aside for prayer for the country represents
a time-honored tradition that embraces
the First Amendment, not violates it,"
said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the
ACLJ.
"This
decision runs counter to well established
legal precedent and we're confident
that this flawed decision ultimately
will be overturned.”
Sekulow
said that ACLJ will be appealing the
case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Seventh Circuit. If the appeals
court refuses to overturn the decision,
Sekulow said that the ACLJ will bring
it before the Supreme Court.
He
said he is confident that the Supreme
Court would “ultimately determine
that such proclamations and observances
like the National Day of Prayer not
only reflect our nation's rich history,
but are indeed consistent with the Establishment
Clause of the First Amendment."
In its brief filed with the federal
district court in Madison, Wisconsin,
the ACLJ represented itself and 31 members
of the 111th Congress – including
Rep. J. Randy Forbes of Virginia, who
chairs the Congressional Prayer Caucus.
The
ACLJ brief noted that the country has
a long history of recognizing a national
day of prayer dating back to the late
1700's with the Continental Congress
recommending that the states set apart
a day for prayer and thanksgiving. The
brief states that "the historical
evidence establishing a National Day
of Prayer as deeply embedded in the
tradition and history of this country
is indisputable."
The ACLJ represented the following U.S.
Representatives who are serving in the
111th Congress: J. Randy Forbes, Robert
B. Aderholt, Michele Bachmann, Roscoe
G. Bartlett, John A. Boehner, John Boozman,
Eric Cantor, K. Michael Conaway, Mary
Fallin, Virginia Foxx, Trent Franks,
Scott Garrett, Louie Gohmert, Wally
Herger, Peter Hoekstra, Walter B. Jones,
Jim Jordan, Doug Lamborn, Thaddeus G.
McCotter, Patrick T. McHenry, Mike McIntyre,
Jeff Miller, Sue Wilkins Myrick, Randy
Neugebauer, Pete Olson, Mike Pence,
Joseph R. Pitts, Heath Shuler, Adrian
Smith, Lamar Smith, and Joe Wilson.
The ACLJ amicus brief is available here:
http://www.aclj.org/media/pdf/ACLJAmicibrief-Final.pdf
"For
to me to live is Christ, and to die
is gain." (Phil 1:21)