On The Front Lines
The Rutherford Institute Issues Guidelines Regarding Participation in National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 5, 2005
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.--In an effort to alleviate any concerns about public participation in the National Day of Prayer, which will take place on Thursday, May 5, 2005, The Rutherford Institute has issued guidelines for individuals concerned about initiating or participating in such an event, whether it takes place in a public park, a public school campus or on courthouse grounds. "The National Day of Prayer celebrates our country's rich heritage of prayer," states the Institute's publication on the event. "In a spirit of tolerance and democracy, the event encourages all American citizens to see beyond themselves, without coercion or specific ideology... It gives Americans the free choice to join with their leaders in acknowledging their dependence on the highest government of all."Information about the National Day of Prayer is available on The Rutherford Institute's website here. Students, teachers, city council members and private individuals with any specific concerns or questions regarding the observance of the National Day of Prayer or who have been reprimanded for initiating or participating in such an event are encouraged to contact The Rutherford Institute by calling (434) 978-3888 or writing staff@rutherford.org.
"According to the U.S. Supreme Court, civic prayer for divine guidance 'is deeply embedded in the history and tradition of this country,'" said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute. "The National Day of Prayer is an opportunity for all Americans, of whatever faith, to exercise the precious freedom God has given our country to pray for our leaders."
Despite objections raised by some separation of church and state groups over local communities observing the National Day of Prayer, various courts have ruled the National Day of Prayer to be constitutionally sound. Furthermore, the U.S. Supreme Court has said that "religious expression holds a place at the core of the type of speech that the First Amendment was designated to protect." Although Congress first declared an annual National Day of Prayer in 1952, it wasn't until 1988 that President Ronald Reagan established it as the first Thursday in May. The federal law describes the National Day of Prayer as a day "on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals." Several states have followed suit by incorporating similar language into proclamations designating their own day of prayer. However, participants continue to encounter misunderstandings about what can and cannot be done. For example, one year, Wisconsin participants contacted The Rutherford Institute after being told that while it was permissible to observe the National Day of Prayer, all prayer had to be silent. Institute attorneys demanded that state officials respect the participants' constitutional rights to free speech and free exercise of religion through prayer.
The Rutherford Institute is an international, nonprofit civil liberties organization committed to defending constitutional and human rights.
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