On 23 Jul 10, the Catholic News Agency reported that several groups are requesting to join the defense of the National Day of Prayer. The article related that the groups believe “the Obama administration is not presenting the strongest possible defense” of the national observance.
The effort to defend the National Day of Prayer is the result of a ruling by U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb which declared the National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional. According to a 15 Apr 10, Guardian Angel Store news summary, the summary of the ruling stated, “It [the National 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. In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience.”
The Catholic News Agency report related the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing the case, but the Family Research Council (FRC) believes the Justice Department is not doing enough to defend the observance. The article quoted Tony Perkins, president of the FRC, as stating in a press release, “The President's attorneys failed to cite any of the key cases that would require immediate dismissal of this lawsuit because the plaintiffs lack standing to bring it. FRC plans to mount a robust defense of this important national event that a liberal judge has attempted to scrub from the public square."
According to a 23 Jul 10, article published by The Christian Post, “Over 30 conservative organizations are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to allow them to participate in oral arguments....” The report related the group included a number of pro-family groups such as Focus on the Family Action and the Liberty Counsel.
The 22 Jul 10, Family Research Council press release quoted Ken Klukowski, Director of Family Research Council's Center for Religious Liberty and lead counsel for FRC's amicus brief in the case, as commenting, “In recent months, Obama Administration officials have stated a willingness to defend the 'freedom to worship' but much more is at stake in this case - our First Amendment right to freedom of religion, which goes far beyond just worship.”
The statement continued, “The courts cannot ban free religious expression by citizens who participate in the NDP because such participation is not imposed. Neither the Constitution nor the NDP itself require any religious activity by anyone, anywhere.”
The First Amendment of the Constitution states in part, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”
Cited Articles and Posts
Catholic News Agency (23 Jul 10)
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pro-family-groups-seek-to-join-legal-defense-of-national-day-of-prayer/
Guardian Angel Store (15 Apr 10)
http://www.guardianangelstore.com/article361.html
The Christian Post (23 Jul 10)
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100723/over-30-pro-family-groups-ask-court-for-entry-into-day-of-prayer-case/index.html
Family Research Council (22 Jul 10)
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PR10G08&f=RF07B02
