Rick Perry Sued for Endorsing Prayer

Religion Today | Updated: Aug 02, 2011

Rick Perry Sued for Endorsing Prayer

Texas governor Rick Perry promoted Aug. 6, 2011 as a day of prayer and was sued. The Freedom from Religion Foundation, on behalf of a group of atheists and agnostics, filed a federal lawsuit against him on July 14, 2011. The complaint, reports WORLD News Service, said Perry violated the First Amendment, which bans government from endorsing a preferred religion.  The day of prayer, called The Response, will take place at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Although The Response is privately sponsored by The American Family Association, it is open to anyone. Thousands of people have already registered.   The Freedom from Religion Foundation, however, argues that the prayer rally is “intended for evangelical Christians.” Those who disagree with the event “are excluded from intended attendance.”  The founder of the American Family Association, Don Wildmon, refutes these claims. “Anyone who wants to pray to Jesus for a nation in crisis is welcome to attend,” he said. He also dismissed claims that the event was political. “The Response is a prayer event. No political candidates will be speaking.”

 

Rick Perry Sued for Endorsing Prayer