Federal judge rules National Day of Prayer unconstitutional
GREENCASTLE -- Prayers will go up on National Day of Prayer in the City of Greencastle. The community will be given an opportunity to gather at Robe-Ann Park and spend about an hour in prayer with local pastors.
Shannon Hammond, an organizer for the local National Day of Prayer, felt God needed to be recognized, not just in Putnam County, but also across the nation.
"We, as a nation, have drifted away from God," Hammond said.
From noon to 1 p.m., pastors from Cornerstone Baptist Church, Fillmore Christian Church, Wellspring Christian Church, Greencastle Christian Church and Campus Ministry at DePauw University will speak for five minutes on a specific topic.
Hammond said topics include the public school system, anti-abortion, elected officials and the future of the country. Following the speeches, gatherers will break into small groups for prayer.
Greencastle won't be praying alone on May 6. President Obama will personally recognize National Day of Prayer; despite a recent lawsuit against his administration resulting in a federal judge ruling it is unconstitutional.
Wisconsin Judge Barbara B. Crabb said the nationally organized day of prayer violated the First Amendment's establishment clause, which bans the creation of a "law respecting an establishment of religion" in the Constitution.
The lawsuit was brought against National Day of Prayer by a group of atheist and agnostics called the Freedom From Religion Foundation, based in Madison, Wis. The group argued it violated the separation of church and state.
The argument presented by Obama's administration was National Day of Prayer was legal because it simply recognized the role of religion in the United States, according to Associated Press.
In a Tweet last week, the White House said that regardless of the ruling, the president still "intends to recognize a National Day of Prayer." The decision does not ban the president from issuing a proclamation, the White House said.
The history of National Day of Prayer took root in 1952 when Congress established it. In 1988, the first Thursday of May was designated at National Day of Prayer. On that day last year, President Obama issued the traditional presidential proclamation, which opened with the line: "Throughout the Nation's history, Americans have come together in moments of great challenge and uncertainty to humble themselves in prayer."