Washington (CNN) - The 59th annual National Day of Prayer was held Thursday against a backdrop of controversy and growing doubts about the future of the event, which a federal judge recently declared unconstitutional.
President Truman signed a bill establishing an official National Day of Prayer in 1952, but U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb in Wisconsin ruled April 15 that the law violates the ban on government-backed religion.
The Justice Department is appealing the case on behalf of the White House. An injunction against the National Day of Prayer will not take effect until all government appeals have been exhausted.
Several events to mark the day were scheduled Thursday across Washington, including services at the Pentagon, the Cannon House Office Building and on the steps of the Capitol.
Updated: 2:14 p.m.
From CNN Politics
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This is a nation that was built on prayer. The Pilgrims prayed at Plymouth Rock, Washington prayed at the Delaware River. It goes on and on. You don't want to pray, your choice! Let not have a Al Fitr celebration at the White House or let's not celebrate Muslim business men in the White House either! That is religious! That is unless your are just targetting Christians! The National Day of Prayer has been celebrated since Truman. Now, all of a sudden, it's unconstitutional??
This is a waste of time, energy and resources for a federal judge to be involved on a topic such as this.
We are a nation founded on Christ centered values, morales, and ethics. That is what America is. There are two paths to take.
God or Satan.
Michael McDonald
That Federal Judge needs to be disbarred. He does not have enough initelligience to make rulings on any afairs.
All you atheist / agnostic morons need to lighten up.
Just because it is a National Day of Prayer, or say "In God We Trust" on the money, or says "One Nation Under God" in the Pledge does not impose anything on you.
It is NOT in violation of the constitution. The spearation of Churh and State is so the government does not establish a national religion. None of those things are establishing a national religion.
Get over it.
Separation of church and government, that simple.
Screw Liberal Judges!
Here's a GREAT IDEA !!!!
Why don't you 500 or so
out there who want to take
freedom OF religion from
the rest of us pack your bags
and just get the heck out
of America. Go to China.
Go to Russia. Go to Venezuela.
Go to Cuba.
But just go some where besides
here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It must really bother some people to think that somewhere in this country, without their knowledge, that a fellow citizen has made an independent choice to pray. You can only seperate church and state by taking people out of the state.
I guess all national days of recognition needs to be canceld.
The way this country been 4 the last 10 years prayer day needs 2 be everyday. What do you think CNN ?
Just another federal judge that can't understand that separation of church and state isn't part of the constitution, and that the first amendment allows the free expression to practice religion anytime, freely and anywhere.
I think Newt Gingrich is correct in wanting to fire some judges, and I think the practice needs to begin immediately.
We could start with this loser before we move onto the 9th Circuit.
I pray every day.
That Obama, he sure is an anti-Christian radical. sarcasm.
It seems the Founding Fathers wanted to seperate government from religious dogma not a citizens right to pray or not. If you are a prayerful person you don't need a designated day to pray.