Prayer Amendment

"Pakistan is one of the clearest demonstrations of the futility of defining a nation by religion, and one of the textbook failures of a state and a society", wrote Christopher Hitchens in his article-'On the Frontier of Apocalypse', for Vanity Fair.

Rep. Ernest Istook (R-Okla.) has unveiled a constitutional amendment to allow government-sponsored religion in public schools and buildings. While our nuclear plants are not protected from terrorist attacks, our border patrol is lacking the needed manpower to keep it secure, and our airline security record remains abysmal, Rep. Istook and the pious preaching hypocrites of the religious-right, think it is their job in Washington, to make sure we all say our prayers.

Americans should tell Rep. Istook and the cosponsors of his obscene amendment, that we are perfectly capable of finding a time and place to pray without their guidance. The U.S. GOVERNED BY CONSTITUTION, NOT RELIGIOUS LAW. They should be doing the job we elected them to do and stop using their religion as a tool to obtain power.

What will be their next step? To erect a minaret in every city, from which they'll summon us to the daily hour of prayer? Will they put the morality police on the streets to enforce the prayer hours, as in Saudi Arabia and other religiously defined nations?

America doesn't need a religious office or a revival tent in the White House. What we need are representatives to uphold the Constitution, not rewrite it in an effort to pursue their religio-political agenda. Instead of pushing through laws to post the 'Ten Commandments' in our public buildings, they should try following them first.

The Religious Right has, it appears, selectively chosen to disregard the words of Jesus himself, as quoted by the apostle, in Matthew 6:5-8:

"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites! They love to stand up and pray in the houses of worship and on the street corners, so that everyone will see them. I assure you they have already been paid in full. But when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to you Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you."

For Legislative information on the Istook Amendment and other Church State issues visit:
Americans United for Separation of Church and State