Is Praying Un-American? Federal Judge Rules "Day of Prayer" Unconstitutional

MADISON, Wis. (CBS/AP) Is a national day of prayer a tribute to Americans' religious freedom, or a violation of it?

The debate was stoked Thursday, April 15,  when a federal judge in Wisconsin ruled that asking citizens to pray is unconstitutional, saying the government cannot call for religious action.

Congress established the "National Day of Prayer" in 1952, and in 1988 set the first Thursday in May as the day for presidents to issue proclamations asking Americans to pray.

President Barack Obama's administration has countered that the statute simply acknowledges the role of religion in the United States. Obama issued a proclamation last year but did not hold public events with religious leaders as former President George W. Bush had done.

Government involvement in prayer is constitutional only as long as it does not call for religious action, which the prayer day does, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb wrote in her ruling.

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

The American Center for Law and Justice, which represented 31 members of Congress who joined the federal government as defendants, called Crabb's ruling flawed and promised to appeal.

"It is unfortunate that this court failed to understand that a day set aside for prayer for the country represents a time-honored tradition that embraces the First Amendment, not violates it," Center for Law and Justice Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow said in a statement.

A spokesman for the U.S. Justice Department, which represented the government in the case, said the agency was reviewing the ruling.

TELL CRIMESIDER WHAT YOU THINK:  Does a "National Day of Prayer" violate the Constitution?