April 23, 2010
National Day of Prayer to be observed, despite judge’s ruling
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
Despite a Wisconsin federal judge’s ruling that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional, this year’s observance of the day will go forward just as it has since 1953.
A proclamation is planned by President Barack Obama, as mandated by law.
In Evansville, Mayor Jonathon Weinzapfel has issued a proclamation, which will be read at a ceremony to be held at the Four Freedoms Monument on the Evansville riverfront, at noon on Thursday, May 6.
U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb in Madison, Wis., said in an April 15 ruling that the federal law designating the day and requiring a presidential proclamation for the day violates the First Amendment prohibition against laws respecting an establishment of religion.
However, she postponed enforcement of the decision until all appeals are exhausted.
The U.S. Department of Justice said it was reviewing the ruling before deciding whether to file an appeal.
The day was challenged by Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation.
In Evansville faith leaders from the world’s great religions plan to pray for wisdom and harmony in the United States. Participants are expected to include Catholics and other Christians along with Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Unitarian Universalist leaders.
To date, faith leaders planning to participate include the following:
- Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger of the Catholic Diocese of Evansville;
- Pastor Joseph Easley of Central United Methodist Church;
- Rev. Phil Hoy, a minister of the United Church of Christ;
- Rev. F.P. Miller, of First Ebenezer Baptist Church in Evansville;
- Rabbi Helen Bar Yaacov from temple B’nai Adath Israel;
- Dr. Mohammad Hussain, a member of the Evansville Muslim Society;
- Rev. Claudene Oliva of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Evansville;
- Shree Martand Sharma from the Tri-State Hindu Temple
- Mary MacGregor from Mindful Heart Buddha Sangha in Evansville.
The Evansville Parks Department has issued a permit for the event at the Four Freedoms Monument at noon on Thursday, May 6.
The ceremony will begin with a patriotic song by singers from Mater Dei High School. The mayor’s proclamation will be read by a designated participant, then faith leaders will come to the microphone to offer a prayer or reflection from their own faith tradition.
Each person in turn has been asked to express hope for wisdom or divine guidance or to request a blessing on our nation, area or community.
The ceremony will conclude with another patriotic song and an invitation to all, leaders and participants alike, to add their signatures to the mayor’s signature on the official proclamation.
The roots of the National Day of Prayer can be traced to 1952 when the Rev. Billy Graham led a rally in Washington D.C. during which he called for a special day to be set aside for Americans to pray and meditate so that the country would experience a “great spiritual awakening.”
Legislation authorizing the day was introduced in the U.S. House the next day and later in the Senate and was quickly passed. President Harry Truman signed the first National Prayer Day proclamation in 1953. President Ronald Reagan made it a permanent event. In 1988, Congress enacted legislation requiring the president to issue an annual proclamation.
Starting in 2001, President George W. Bush annually hosted a high-profile event to mark the day in the East Room of the White House. It was attended by numerous religious and po-litical figures.
In 2009, President Barack Obama issued a proclamation for the day, but did not host a prayer service at the White House. The decision was criticized by Republicans and some religious leaders.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation filed its lawsuit against government officials in October 2008.
The group argued the day violated the separation of church and state because it said that government officials, in observing it, too often adopted the religious perspective of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, based at the headquarters of Focus on the Family, a Christ-ian advocacy group based in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The ruling does not affect the National Prayer Breakfast, traditionally held in Washington on the first Thursday of February and organized by a private organization. Presidents and various religious, political and celebrity figures have addressed the gathering.
The National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, a separate event usually held in Washington in mid-April, also is not affected by the ruling. The 2010 event has been postponed until September, according to the event’s Web site.
Catholic News Service contributed to this story.