National Day of Reason: Activism

Americans for Religious Liberty

To the Editor:

Jay Sekulow's May 2nd column "A Day of Prayer" misleadingly portrays the National Day of Prayer as a constitutional government action that enjoys universal appeal - discounting critics concerns as legally misguided and ethically insignificant.

The federal government unconstitutionally violates the first amendment when it tells Americans when we should pray. When and whether to pray are decisions the constitution leaves to private citizens. What Sekulow does not mention, is that this year's National Day of Prayer also includes an official prayer written by U.S. Senate Chaplain Lloyd Ogilvie to "our personal Lord and Savior." Not content with telling us that we should pray and when to do it, the government feels it appropriate to tell us what we should pray.

Unlike Sekulow, I do not feel that matters of prayer and belief are insignificant concerns, nor do I feel that the government asking me and my children to recite prayers out of sync with our traditions is harmless. Many patriotic Americans cannot conscionably heed Sekulow's call for all to welcome a National Day of Prayer. Millions feel it is artificial and inappropriate to engage in government mandated public prayer.

Edd Doerr

Americans for Religious Liberty