Join Us in Defending Nat'l Day of Prayer

As you know, a federal district court judge in Wisconsin two weeks ago declared the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional.

It's 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.

This decision runs counter to well established legal precedent and we're preparing an aggressive amicus brief supporting the federal government's appeal of this troubling decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

The court decision does not halt this year's event and President Obama has once again issued a proclamation for the event.

Here's an excerpt of President Obama's Proclamation:

Throughout our history, whether in times of great joy and thanksgiving, or in times of great challenge and uncertainty, Americans have turned to prayer.  In prayer, we have expressed gratitude and humility, sought guidance and forgiveness, and received inspiration and assistance, both in good times and in bad.
 
On this day, let us give thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed upon our Nation.  Let us rejoice for the blessing of freedom both to believe and to live our beliefs, and for the many other freedoms and opportunities that bring us together as one Nation.  Let us ask for wisdom, compassion, and discernment of justice as we address the great challenges of our time.
 
We are blessed to live in a Nation that counts freedom of conscience and free exercise of religion among its most fundamental principles, thereby ensuring that all people of goodwill may hold and practice their beliefs according to the dictates of their consciences.  Prayer has been a sustaining way for many Americans of diverse faiths to express their most cherished beliefs, and thus we have long deemed it fitting and proper to publicly recognize the importance of prayer on this day across the Nation.

This is an important opportunity to celebrate our history and heritage - to take part in a Day of Prayer - a call to prayer that dates back to our Founding Fathers.

I want to give you an opportunity to stand with us as we pursue this legal appeal.  We now represent some 50 members of Congress (Democrats and Republicans alike) who will sign on to our amicus brief to be filed with the 7th Circuit.   And, tens of thousands of you already have signed on to our Committee to Protect the National Day of Prayer, which will be represented in our amicus brief as well.

Take a stand and protect prayer right now.  Send a powerful message of support for the National Day of Prayer.  Add your name to our Committee to Protect the National Day of Prayer - and stand with us in our amicus brief to be filed at the federal appeals court.