The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on April 14, 2011 that the Madison, Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) -- a group of atheists and agnostics -- did not have any basis for filing a lawsuit against the National Day of Prayer, because it has not caused the FFRF any injury.
The Court said that the FFRF was complaining because it was observing conduct with which it disagreed, and that does not make a federal case.
Moreover, the Court rejected arguments from the FFRF that the case was legitimate, because members felt excluded by the day. The fact is that no one is excluded from taking part in the National Day of Prayer.
The actual Day of Prayer is set by an annual proclamation from the president, but many of the activities arranged for Christians and their churches are handled by a private organization set up to promote the day.
Congress established the National Day of Prayer in 1952, and in 1988 set the first Thursday in May for its celebration.
Indeed, the Court was correct in its ruling, because nobody is forced to participate -- or prevented from participating -- in the National Day of Prayer.
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