The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

On Thursday April 15, 2010 U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb (a Clinton appointee), ruled that the National Day of Prayer, scheduled for today, was unconstitutional.    Crabb wrote in her ruling (excerpt):

It goes beyond mere “acknowledgment” of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function in this context. In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience

One might argue that the National Day of Prayer does not violate the establishment clause because it does not endorse any one religion. Unfortunately, that does not cure the problem. Although adherents of many religions “turn to God in prayer,” not all of them do.

Further, the statute seems to contemplate a specifically Christian form of prayer with its reference to “churches” but no other places of worship and the limitation in the 1952 version of the statute that the National Day of Prayer may not be on a Sunday.

Judge Crabb apparently does not understand the meaning of the word voluntary. 

Exactly one week after the ruling, our fearless Commander-in-Chief came courageously to the defense of this national voluntary observance.  Per CNN.com:

The Obama administration will fight to preserve the law establishing an annual National Day of Prayer, the Justice Department confirmed Thursday (April 22nd).

The Justice Department’s official filing of a “notice to appeal” Thursday came as no surprise, after White House spokesman Matt Lehrich said following the ruling that President Obama intends to recognize this year’s National Day of Prayer, which is May 6.

The injunction against the National Day of Prayer would not take effect until the appeals have been exhausted.

This was remarkable, considering that the President refuses to allow the Federal Government to participate in this observance.   However, realizing that 75 % of Americans identify themselves as Christian and, as Fox and Friends informed us yesterday morning, 83 % of Americans believe that God answers prayer, what choice did President Obama have?  Maybe he actually learned something in those 20 years under the most honorable Reverend Wright, besides how to spell America with three K’s in front of it.

Our Founding Fathers recognized the need of prayer:

Benjamin Franklin at the Congressional Congress, 1787

I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth–that God Governs the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?

We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that “except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move–that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service.

Presidents have always realized the power of praying to their Creator.   As Michael Barone wrote on January 19th, 2005 for wsj.com about George W. Bush’s Second Inauguration:

George W. Bush has been criticized for his religious references. But he has only been following tradition. Every Second Inaugural since Washington’s brief statement has included some reference to God, from Jefferson’s “that Being,” Madison’s “Heaven” and Monroe’s “Supreme Author of All Good” to Reagan’s “God bless you” and Clinton’s “May God strengthen our hands for the good work ahead–and always, always bless our America.” Four years ago Mr. Bush referred, in Founder’s language, to the “author” of “our nation’s grand story.” Expect something similar from him tomorrow.

Today, our nation stands at the precipice, looking over into future’s abyss of  unknown possibilities.  Will we remain true to our founders, who began a new nation based on Judeo-Christian values and beliefs?  Or will we be destroyed at the hands of our enemies, foreign and domestic?  Please join millions in observing the purpose of this day.  We are a nation standing in the need of prayer.

Sources:  The Dangers of Prayer and Eye Black (this blog),  cnn.com, wsj.com, chuckbaldwinlive.com