Judge: Natl Day of Prayer unconstitutional

I'd like to personally thank U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb for this bit of constitutional wisdom.

Crabb wrote that the government can no more enact laws supporting a day of prayer than it can encourage citizens to fast during Ramadan, attend a synagogue or practice magic.

"In fact, it is because the nature of prayer is so personal and can have such a powerful effect on a community that the government may not use its authority to try to influence an individual's decision whether and when to pray," Crabb wrote.

Indeed. This encourages local-level events, which become even more coercive.

The Obama Administration said that federal proclamations of the day are simply an "acknowledgment" of prayer's place in society. Crabb disagreed, rightfully in my opinion:

"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," she wrote. "In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience."

This one is going to be fought out for quite a while.