Judge: Prayer day violates U.S. law

President Obama speaks to Christian leaders from around the  country in the East Room of the White House on Tuesday during an Easter  prayer breakfast. He welcomed them warmly as "my brothers and  sisters in Christ" and honored Christ as "our risen  Savior." (Associated Press)

Obama to recognize national tradition

A federal judge in Wisconsin ruled on Thursday that the country’s National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional because it calls on citizens to take part in religious activity.

Senior U.S. District Court Judge Barbara B. Crabb said the statute that created the National Day of Prayer violates the Constitution’s prohibition against the government establishment of religion.

Judge Crabb, a 1979 appointee of President Carter, wrote in her decision that “some forms of ‘ceremonial deism,’ such as legislative prayer, do not violate the establishment clause.” But she said the National Day of Prayer goes too far.

“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 said. “In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience.”

In her ruling, the judge said she understood that many might disagree with her conclusion and some could view it as a criticism of prayer or those who pray.

“That is unfortunate,” she said. “A determination that the government may not endorse a religious message is not a determination that the message itself is harmful, unimportant or undeserving of dissemination. Rather, it is part of the effort ‘to carry out the Founders’ plan of preserving religious liberty to the fullest extent possibly in a pluralistic society.'”

The ruling will not stop President Obama from recognizing, as he did last year, a national day of prayer, said White House spokesman Ben LaBolt. Judge Crabb delayed the imposition of her ruling pending an appeal.  “We have reviewed the court’s decision, and it does not prevent the president from issuing a proclamation,” Mr. LaBolt said.

The judge’s ruling came in a lawsuit originally filed in 2008 by the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation. The atheist, agnostic and nontheist group said Thursday they were surprised and disappointed that the president intended to issue the proclamation.

“President Obama is a constitutional scholar, and knows the issues at stake,” said the foundation Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor.

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