Atheists Sue Over National Prayer Day

If the Freedom From Religion Foundation wins its a suit filed Friday in Madison Wisconsin's U.S. District court, presidential proclamations calling on Americans to pray will be banned.

America's largest group of atheists is arguing that the day of prayer, held each year on the first Thursday of May, creates a "hostile environment for nonbelievers, who are made to feel as if they are political outsiders," the lawsuit said.

Issued April 22, 2008, this year's National Day of Prayer proclamation included the following words, evidently offensive to atheists:

America trusts in the abiding power of prayer and asks for the wisdom to discern God's will in times of joy and of trial. As we observe this National Day of Prayer, we recognize our dependence on the Almighty, we thank Him for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us, and we put our country's future in His hands.

From our Nation's humble beginnings, prayer has guided our leaders and played a vital role in the life and history of the United States. Americans of many different faiths share the profound conviction that God listens to the voice of His children and pours His grace upon those who seek Him in prayer. By surrendering our lives to our loving Father, we learn to serve His eternal purposes, and we are strengthened, refreshed, and ready for all that may come.

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle is named in the suit because he is one of 50 governors who issued proclamations calling for the prayer day. The foundation is based in Madison.

Shirley Dobson, chairwoman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, and White House press secretary Dana Perino also are named.

The foundation has filed numerous lawsuits in recent years, including one rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court last year that attacked President Bush's faith-based initiative.

The White House and Doyle spokesman Lee Sensenbrenner had no comment on the lawsuit. A message seeking comment from the task force was not returned Friday.

Comments

[David P. Graf]

Given the comments reprinted from the proclamation, it does seem to me to be a strong endorsement of religion on the part of the government. I'm not comfortable with that. I don't want governments to be telling people that some religious practice is good or bad. I think it should be up to each person to decide what they believe or don't believe. However, governors and other members of government can and should openly endorse the National Day of Prayer. Let's just leave off the government's imprimatur on it by issuing a formal proclamation.

[JB]

David, which religion are you referring to? I see no specific religion named in the proclamation.

The Bob Shermans of the world need to accept that they are not the majority. No one forces the Bob Shermans to accept religion. In the United States we are guaranteed freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.

[David P. Graf]

I do not want the government to be in the business of promoting religion in general or in particular. I have no problem with a governor or the President or any other member of the government issuing a statement in favor of the National Day of Prayer. I do have a problem when it's done under the imprimatur of the government through an official proclamation.

[Hascat]

"Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. 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" - Matthew 6:5-6