ATHEIST GROUP SUES PRESIDENT BUSH

President Bush, the Governor of Wisconsin, and other officials were sued by “The Freedom From Religion Foundation.” The lawsuit, filed in federal district court, challenges the federal law designating a National Day of Prayer. The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) argues that the Presidential proclamation calling on Americans to pray violates the “separation of church and state.” According to its website, “The Freedom From Religion Foundation, with more than 12,000 members, is the nation's largest association of freethinkers (atheists and agnostics). FFRF has been working since 1978 to promote free thought and to keep state and church separate.”

The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause states in its entirety that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” Notably, the Clause does not provide for the separation of church and state. To the contrary, setting aside days for prayer has been a long tradition in this country. The Continental Congress proclaimed Thanksgivings and days of fasting twice a year from at least 1776 to 1783. As Governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson proclaimed a day of prayer. And, as President of the United States, John Adams proclaimed a day of prayer. Benjamin Franklin made the following statement before asking if each day of the Constitutional Convention would begin in prayer: “"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?"

The founding fathers did not intend for the Establishment Clause to prohibit prayer in the public or private lives of Americans. This lawsuit is part of a continued attempt to remove religion from the public sector altogether. The Presidential proclamation issued this year asked God's blessings on our country and called for Americans to observe the day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. This is far from a constitutional violation. It is an acknowledgement of our Nation’s history and the power of the God who created us.

FFRF also sued White House press secretary, Dana Perino, for merely speaking words with religious content from a podium. Advocates for Faith and Freedom is dedicated to fighting this type of incorrect and catastrophic interpretation of the Establishment Clause. We must assure that future generations have both an understanding of our Christian heritage and the ability to practice their religion freely, both in public and private.