The Truth:
By an act of congress during
the administration of President Harry Truman, a National Day of Prayer
was called during May of each year. Later during the Reagan
administration Congress chose the first Thursday in May to be the
National Day of Prayer.
The Freedom From
Religion Foundation filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government
arguing that the Day of Prayer is a violation of separation of Church
and State, in other words, unconstitutional.
A Federal Court Judge
in Wisconsin on Thursday April 15, 2009 issued a ruling in favor of the
Freedom From Religion Foundation, agreeing that the National Day of
Prayer is unconstitutional.
Knowing that this
issue will have to make its way through the courts, perhaps even to the
U.S. Supreme Court, the judge also ruled that nothing would change until
the issue is finally settled. In other words, no change in the National
Day of Prayer scheduled for May 6, 2010.
Groups that are
opposed to the National Day of Prayer have begun a publicity campaign
and contacting cities where events are planned for May 6 and telling
them that they have to be cancelled.
That is not true and
the events intended for this May 6 are not affected by the ruling.
updated 04/17/10
