A recent federal court ruling that says the 59-year tradition of the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional won’t stop some from taking time today to pray for their nation.
“There’s an old country saying that says, ‘You need to let a sleeping dog lie,'” said Mitch McClure, pastor of Middle Valley Church of God in Hixson. “Sometimes when you interfere and try to stop people from praying and seeking God and you try to take something away — sometimes you wake that sleeping dog up.”
Last month in Madison, Wis., U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled that the day violates the First Amendment, citing that Congress shall “make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”
The ruling stemmed from a 2008 lawsuit filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Wisconsin-based group of agnostics and atheists.
The Obama administration has announced it will appeal the ruling, and last week President Barack Obama signed the National Day of Prayer proclamation, calling on citizens “to pray, or otherwise give thanks, in accordance with their own faiths and consciences.”
Several area churches and other organizations are providing places today to observe the day, established by Congress in 1952 and held on the first Thursday in May since 1988.
Margaret Bryan, an organizer of the observance held on the Hamilton County Courthouse lawn, said public prayer “is very important while we still have the freedom to do it.” She thinks the court ruling stems from a misinterpretation of the Constitution.
“That law never meant we were supposed to be separated from religion,” said the Lookout Mountain resident. “It’s not supposed to be freedom from religion, but freedom of religion.”
But based on previous Supreme Court decisions, the ruling could be upheld as unconstitutional, said John Friedl, who teaches a course on the First Amendment at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
However, it is impossible to predict what the current Supreme Court will do, since its makeup has become more socially conservative in the past generation, he said.
“The Constitution means what the Supreme Court says it means,” Mr. Friedl said. “If the court decided that the National Day of Prayer was not a violation, then it wouldn’t be — by definition.”
Mrs. Bryan said prayers at the courthouse today will focus on seven categories — government, military, media, business, education, church and family.
Special guests, including students, military personnel and families will lead prayers, and political figures such as Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey and Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield will welcome the crowd and deliver the proclamation, she said.
IF YOU GO
Chattanooga
Where: Hamilton County Courthouse lawn, 625 Georgia Ave.
When: Noon-1 p.m.
Where: Hickory Valley Baptist Church, 2320 Hickory Valley Road
When: Noon-5 p.m.
Hixson
Where: Middle Valley Church of God, 1703 Thrasher Pike
When: 7-8 p.m.
Cleveland, Tenn.
Where: First Baptist Church, 340 Church St. NE
When: Noon-1 p.m.
Benton, Tenn.
Where: Benton Station Baptist Church, 909 Benton Station Road
When: 7-8:30 p.m.
LaFayette, Ga.
Where: Walker County Tax Commissioner’s Office, 101 South Duke St.
When: Noon-1 p.m.
Ringgold, Ga.
Where: Ringgold Depot, 155 Depot St.
When: Noon-1 p.m.
Rossville
Where: Lakeview, 10 Hudson St.
When: 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
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