Proof that progressivism is alive and well on planet Earth came again this past week via a Wisconsin federal judge's ruling that the National Day of Prayer (NDP) is unconstitutional.
Appointed to the bench by Jimmy Carter, U.S. District Judge Barbara B. 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. She further gave the rationale, "The same law that prohibits the government from declaring a National Day of Prayer also prohibits it from declaring a National Day of Blasphemy."
Even more preposterous logic is found in her words: "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."
As most know, the first Thursday in May has been honored as a national day of prayer since 1952, when its approval flew through the Congress as a way to help separate America as a country with a godly heritage and to aid her success against atheistic communism. Ever since, presidents have commemorated the NDP. Even President Obama issued a proclamation in 2009 about the NDP, though he did not hold ecumenical and public events with religious leaders, as former President George W. Bush had done.
Regarding Crabb's ruling on the NDP being unconstitutional, Chief Counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice Jay Sekulow hit the judicial nail on the head when he said, "It is unfortunate that this court failed to understand that a day set aside for prayer for the country represents a time-honored tradition that embraces the First Amendment, not violates it."
The phrase "the separation of church and state" actually comes from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1802 to the Danbury Baptists. He told them that no particular Christian denomination was going to have a monopoly in government. His words, "a wall of separation between church and state," were not written to remove all religious practice from government or civic settings, but to prohibit the domination and even legislation of religious sectarianism.
Some might be completely surprised to discover that just two days after Jefferson wrote his famous letter citing the "wall of separation between church and state," he attended church in the place where he always had as president: the U.S.
Capitol. The very seat of our nation's government was used for sacred purposes. As the Library of Congress notes, "It is no exaggeration to say that on Sundays in Washington during the administrations of Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809) and of James Madison (1809-1817) the state became the church." Does that sound like someone who was trying to create an impenetrable wall of separation between church and state?
In 1789, after being urged by Congress on the same day they finished drafting the First Amendment, President Washington issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation stating that "It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor."
President John Adams declared that America's independence "ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty."
Ben Franklin was particularly eloquent on the power of prayer in government, as he addressed those who attended the Constitutional Convention:
"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for the divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard; and they were graciously answered. All of us, who were engaged in the struggle, must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor. To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need its assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, That God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?"
It's a question that needs to ring from the corridors of Congress to the halls of our public schools and homes: "And have we now forgotten that powerful friend?"
To answer for yourself and your household, take a minute right now to sign the official NDP prayer petition.
As the Protect Prayer Website reads: "U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb needs a history lesson, and we need to send a message to Congress: 'It's time that we put a stop to renegade judges who rule with no understanding of our nation's history. Our founding fathers declared National Days of Prayer to be constitutional, and so should you!'"
Most of all, join a group in your local community on this 59th National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 6, bow your head in prayer with them, beseech God to forgive and heal our land, and demonstrate in action your First Amendment rights!
To find out more about Chuck Norris and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2010 CHUCK NORRIS
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM
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Hi Chuck. Great to see you listed as one of the 3 most popular authors again. This is from the American Family Association and may be of some practical help.
Judge Declares Prayer Unconstitutional - Here's What You Can Do
Dear Alan,
Last week, Barbara Crabb, a federal judge appointed by former president Jimmy Carter, declared that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional. Bizarrely, she said it is a violation of the First Amendment.
Yet the tradition of national days of prayer goes back to our very first congress and our first president. Just two days after members of Congress passed the First Amendment, they asked President George Washington to declare a national day of thanksgiving and prayer. In response to this request from Congress, President Washington, less than a week after passage of the First Amendment, issued just such a proclamation on October 3, 1789.
From a merely historical point of view, this makes it clear that it is preposterous to suggest that there is anything unconstitutional about a national day of prayer. Judge Crabb seems dangerously unaware of American history and the true meaning of the First Amendment, which was designed to protect freedom of religious expression, not stamp it out.
On Thursday, May 6, I invite you to participate in Meet At City Hall from 12:20 pm to 12:40 pm during the National Day Of Prayer. At thousands of city halls across the country, individuals will gather to pray for a moral rebirth in our country. The National Day of Prayer is an annual event established by an act of Congress which encourages Americans to pray for our nation, its people and its leaders.
Your participation in Meet At City Hall is very simple. Simply show up at your local city hall at 12:20 pm on Thursday, May 6. There will be others present. Spend the 20 minutes in prayer.
If you want to help promote Meet At City Hall, we suggest you invite members of your Sunday School class or church to join together and organize, as you desire. You can invite some public officials, local pastors, church choirs, etc. to participate. The amount of organization and promotion is entirely up to you. Let us unashamedly take our Light from underneath the basket and set it on a table.
Sincerely,
Tim Wildmon, President
American Family Association
Comment: #1
Posted by: Alan O'Reilly
Tue Apr 20, 2010 5:31 AM
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Chuck I respectively disagree with you. Jesus stated, "Go to your room, in private and pray..."
We have endeavored here, through our Founding Fathers to separate church and state for very good reasons as anyone who has studied the ravages of Religious fanatics throughout history knows full well. Every nation and every religion once organized took on incredibly cruel wars, tortures, and theological genocide.
I spend at least one hour a day, three or more times a day at prayer, alone in my room, with the door closed and have seen the power of that communication with The Creator. Prayer always was and remains a private contact between humans and their God. Publicly what you recommend is not a bad idea, but experience tells us it gives an open door to phonies, hacks, and opportunists who always have and do now use “religion” as a way to manipulate politics in their sorry direction. It lead to the Crusades and to the Inquisition and with today's weapons and lack of ethics, it would be far more dangerous than it was so long ago.
Something to think about; Organized Religions have been responsible for more murders, wars and torture than any other entity. God does not seek an advertising agency and to me public prayer is hypocritical. To whom are they praying and for what? For the edification of the audience or to their God? God needs no audience he seeks solemnity not voters. We do not elect God. Days of prayer would soon be a battle ground over whose prayers, what prayers and ending in bloodshed and Dogma. God has indicated as clearly as possible in the Testaments and in private revelations that Dogma is the enemy of God and using God to promote issues is a sad and abusive thing to do, it is a blasphemy.
In my lifetime those who made a spectacle of themselves at prayer have always ended up hypocrites, liars and dictators.
Sorry but we are not on the same page on this issue, but I am not on the same page with parts of both major parties. I am against abortion and I favor gun ownership. I am in favor of Jesus' entire life's work, and he was in favor of FREE health care for ALL. There is no record that he ever charged for healing and this pitted the physicians of the day against him. His only act of violence against humans was against avarice, the Big Business of his era, on the Portico of The Temple against the Financial people the Money exchangers and sacrificial animal sellers.
He rallied against the greedy wealthy and forgave none which he encountered, but forgave ALL of those who were adulterers, displaying his understanding of weaknesses of the flesh but not against avarice.
My God does not need to hear my prayers in public as a center of attention, he hears them all day in my privacy. We have Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving as well as Lent, with Good Friday and the rest as Holidays of choice and that is what religions are, choices not Public Government Institutions to cram their choices of how to believe upon the rest. I respect the way in which others believe and I expect no less in return. Contact with God is not a TV show, a movie, or Google deprivatizational recreation or ShowBiz.
God Bless, I respectfully disagree, sir.
Comment: #2
Posted by: Professor Peter Bagnolo
Tue Apr 20, 2010 10:14 AM
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I don't see why some people get in such a huff over National Prayer Day. It's not like we're talking about a mandate for prayer. Nobody is forced to participate in (or even recognize) National Prayer Day any more than they're forced to observe Mother's Day, Thanksgiving or Independenc Day. So pray if you want, to whatever deity you choose. Or opt out. Nobody will know except you and, possibly, your God.
Comment: #3
Posted by: Eric Alder
Wed May 5, 2010 11:46 AM
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