I stumbled upon this Act while wandering about in the West Law. The Act establishes a National Day of Prayer. To my surprise, it is enacted in 1998 in the US. See its fate as well.
"The
President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday
in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may
turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as
individuals."
"Constitutionality
Statute creating the National Day of Prayer, whose sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function in such context, violates the establishment clause; the statute goes beyond mere “acknowledgment” of religion and conveys message of government endorsement of prayer, purpose of the National Day of Prayer is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, in particular the Judeo-Christian view of prayer, statute does not “accommodate” religion, and government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience. Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. v. Obama, W.D.Wis.2010, 705 F.Supp.2d 1039, vacated and remanded 641 F.3d 803."
By Courtesy of the West Law
Statute creating the National Day of Prayer, whose sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function in such context, violates the establishment clause; the statute goes beyond mere “acknowledgment” of religion and conveys message of government endorsement of prayer, purpose of the National Day of Prayer is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, in particular the Judeo-Christian view of prayer, statute does not “accommodate” religion, and government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience. Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. v. Obama, W.D.Wis.2010, 705 F.Supp.2d 1039, vacated and remanded 641 F.3d 803."
By Courtesy of the West Law
