Federal judge rejects Obama administration stand, rules National Day of Prayer unconstitutional

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb wrote that the government can no more enact laws supporting a day of prayer than it can encourage citizens to fast during Ramadan, attend a synagogue or practice magic.

"In fact, it is because the nature of prayer is so personal and can have such a powerful effect on a community that the government may not use its authority to try to influence an individual's decision whether and when to pray," Crabb wrote.

Congress established the day in 1952 and in 1988 set the first Thursday in May as the day for presidents to issue proclamations asking Americans to pray.

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President Barack Obama's administration has countered that the statute simply acknowledges the role of religion in the United States.

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Obama spokesman Matt Lehrich said in an e-mail to The Associated Press the president still plans to issue a proclamation for the next prayer day.

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Crabb wrote that ... government involvement in prayer may be constitutional if the conduct serves a "significant secular purpose" and doesn't amount to a call for religious action. But the National Day of Prayer crosses that line, she wrote.

"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," she wrote. "In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2010-04-15-prayer-day_N.htm

[Bobby+Umit 161]

If God (insert your flavor) knows all, hears all, all ready knows the future/past, why do you still need to pray?

Wouldn't God know all ready?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If God (insert your flavor) knows all, hears all, all ready knows the future/past, why do you still need to pray?

Wouldn't God know all ready?

God is a bit of a diva.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

This will haunt the Dems on election day, especially when the Senate focuses on the issue during the confirmation hearings. Lose-lose for the moderate Senators, since confirmation is obvious, so are the sink holes. The subject of the hearings cannot possibly give a yes or no answer, so the question will be asked 10,000 times, "Is a day of National Prayer Constitutional?"

[one...two...tree 2,762]

U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb sounds like a feminazi, activist judge.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

There's an inherent difference in establishing a National Religion and by recognizing a National Day of Prayer.

The judge is an idiot in her interpretation to be quite honest.

No one is forced to pray. No one is forced to be anywhere and listen to it. No one is told they have to join a national relgiion.

Those who sued need to get over themselves.

[chri'stina 190]

God is a bit of a diva.

I am going to sue you for that comment.

[Danno 1,228]

NExt thing you know, our Reps in Washington will have to cease with their daily prayer and fire the tax paid Chaplain.

[NickD 203]

Pray to who? Does that national day of prayer state to whom you must pray to?

I can pray to you that you be nice on this board, but that may likewise be a worthless prayer. Pray is a general word and does not have to be associated with any religion. Now bowing your head, that can be a different story. Can be interpreted as looking down on another person or a deity. Especially if you are tall like me.

[mawilson 2,133]

If God (insert your flavor) knows all, hears all, all ready knows the future/past, why do you still need to pray?

God is very needy, he needs constant reassurance that he's still sexy and wanted.

God is a bit of a diva.

Oops... AJ beat me to it, as usual

[scandal 951]

If God (insert your flavor) knows all, hears all, all ready knows the future/past, why do you still need to pray?

Wouldn't God know all ready?

Profound and deep questions.

For Jews, the answer is that prayer is a mitzvah (Jews pray because God told them too ).

In fact the purpose of prayer is seen as to edify humans and better ourselves, not because it's something God requires.

The medieval philosopher Nahmanides, in his discussion of the purpose of worship (in his commentary on Deuteronomy 22:6), arrives at the same conclusion. The proper worship of God should have a beneficial impact on human character, leading us to exemplify virtues in our lives, and bring us closer to perfection, to being God-like in our behavior.

NB: I'm an atheist who hasn't prayed since my teen years. But I got raised on this stuff, so can still recite chapter and verse .