
By: Robin Murray-o'hair
Re: Re: Nat. Day of Prayer/S&C Concerns

"NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER" RAISES STATE-CHURCH SEPARATION CONCERNS

This Thursday's Prayer Event a Dangerous Mix of Government
Sanction, Religious Proselytizing to Many

by Conrad F. Goeringer

   The 44th annual National Day of Prayer will be held this
coming Thursday, May 4. According to religious news services,
"Millions of Americans of all faiths will gather at churches and
synagogues, city halls, state capitols, ball parks and other
public place . . . to pray for their nation".    And that fact
has many civil libertarians and church/state separation defenders
more than a bit worried.  Already, groups such as American
Atheists and American Gay & Lesbian Atheists are planning
protests against the National Day of Prayer.  For them, and many
concerned Americans, government should not be orchestrating
something which is -- they say -- a religious ritual.

                          Origins In the Cold War

   The National Day of Prayer began 44 years ago, established by
an act of Congress in 1952.  A review of the Congressional Record
and other sources from that period reveals that it was designed
to be a "symbol" of opposition to "godless communism." Presidents
since then have signed the annual Declaration continuing the Day
of Prayer ever since.

   The governors of all fifty states and Puerto Rico have signed
proclamations for the Day of Prayer or will do so on Thursday.
They are similar in their wording; President Clinton's statements
calls upon "every citizen of this great Nation to gather together
on that day to pray . . . for God's continued guidance and
blessing."    A number of state capitol and city hall buildings
will also be the sight of prayers, music and other events uniting
religious leaders and elected officials.  In Washington, D.C., a
program is slated for the Cannon House Office Building. On the
west steps of the U.S. Capitol, there will be a 72-hour "Bible
read-a-thon" by clergy and politicians.

   The House Office Building observance will include the "Singing
Sergeants" from the U.S. Air Force, Gen. Ronald Fogelman, the Air
Force Chief of Staff, Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley and
Indiana Senator Dan Coats.  Heavy hitters from the religious
movement include Archbishop Cardinal Anthony Bevilaqua of
Philadelphia, and popular Christian advice-peddler James C.
Dobson.

   It is estimated that over 10,000 organized events will take
place throughout the country on Thursday, many of them on
government property and involving elected officials.

   And Prayer Day organizers think they'll be getting a boost in
interest because of the Oklahoma City bombing.  The chair of the
National Day of Prayer Task Force, Shirley Dobson, says, "I
believe a tragedy like the terrible bombing in Oklahoma City
could unite our entire country in prayer."  The task force now
has a staff of some 2,000 state and regional coordinators working
to organize local Prayer Day activities.

           National Day of Prayer -- Bigoted and Divisive?

    Critics of the Prayer Day spectacle are less enthused about
this event, though, and even worried about the message it sends
to the American public.  Although President Clinton, along with
governors, mayors, police chiefs and other officials are calling
upon "all Americans" to pray and observe the solemnity of this
event, America-1995 is by no means a "Christian" or "religious"
nation.  About 10 percent of Americans -- over 25,000,000 people
-- consider themselves Atheists, freethinkers, or defined by some
similar label.  Tens of millions more are "Un-churched," since
they rarely if ever bother to attend organized religious events.
And although religious organizations count many people in their
respective congregations, those figures are often high, based on
one-time membership, or those who happened to have been baptized
into the church as children.  Atheists, skeptics, "Un-churched
Americans" may add up to more than 50 percent of the population;
if not, they certainly comprise a substantial minority, which
raises questions about Clinton's use of the term "All Americans."

   Critics also worry about Constitutional issues which surround
events such as the National Day of Prayer.  At this time, it is
not known how many of these events such as the appearance of the
"Singing Sergeants" of the United States Air Force involve direct
or indirect spending of government funds.  Numerous federal and
state statutes (along with the Establishment clause of the First
Amendment as interpreted by the courts) prohibit the expenditures
of public monies for religious exercise.  The free use of public
facilities, such as House Office meeting rooms, clearly violates
these prohibitions.

    And the critics also worry about the overwhelming symbolism
in events such as National Day of Prayer.  The event is clearly a
marriage between government authorities and church leaders; for
church/state separationists, Prayer Day is a "government seal of
approval" on religious belief. For many of those 26,000,000
Atheists and other non-religious, it also serves to reinforce a
spiritual mythology that accepts the efficacy of prayer.

                    A Theo-Political Agenda?

   Many of the groups and individuals behind the National Day of
Prayer Task Force have strong links to evangelical movements
which are active in politics.  While the Prayer Day has a veneer
of "ecumenical" spirit embracing "all" Christians, Jews and even
Muslims, materials, speeches and broadcasts of this event
frequently convey a right-wing theo-political message.  The
marriage of religion and government  in this and other holidays
highlights other agendas, including opposition to gay rights,
abortion, unrestricted freedom of expression, blasphemy, feminism
and nonbelief.  It also serves to underscore the alleged
importance of "family values," defined in terms of a heterosexual
arrangement within the confines of state and church-sanctioned
marriage.

   The rhetoric of National Day of Prayer, once directed at
"godless communism," now focuses on domestic foes.

  For many Americans, May 4th will be "just another Thursday."
But increasingly, the National Day of Prayer is an event which
attracts growing support and publicity.  It serves as a
mouthpiece on issues such as school prayer, "law and order"
politics, "cracking down" on obscenity, and "returning the nation
to god".  Many politicians already sense the electoral value in
participating in this event, especially given the role Christian
evangelicals have played in grassroots politics.    This Thursday
may be many things to many different Americans -- another work
day, a day of religious exercise, a political opportunity.
Hopefully for some, May 4, National Day of Prayer, will serve as
a wake up call-to-action in defense of the First Amendment.

                             --30--

 * WCE 2.0/2394 * Dial-THE-Atheist (512) 458-5731

