Resolution would clarify right to pray
- Apr 7, 2008 - comment
JEFFERSON CITY—Missouri voters may soon be asked to vote on a “right-to-pray” amendment to the state’s constitution, but the proposed amendment won’t change anything. Its purpose is to clarify what is already there.
Introduced by Rep. Mike McGhee, R-Odessa, House Joint Resolution 55 (HJR 55) reaffirms the fact that Missourians have the First Amendment right to pray in public buildings.
McGhee said his legislation is like that introduced by Rep. Carl Bearden, R-Jefferson City, two years ago except that Bearden’s bill only mentioned schools while the newer bill makes it clear that anyone can pray on any public property.
McGhee said he has not had the time to verify all the incidents that have been brought to his attention but gave an example of the experience of one woman who works in the Capitol. After this woman’s daughter wrote, “I love you, Jesus” on a school paper, the child’s teacher instructed her to mark off the word “Jesus” and write “Mommy” in its place.
Provisions of the proposed amendment include the following:
- that individuals cannot be coerced to participate in prayer or other religious activity;
- that public prayers not be allowed to disturb the peace or disrupt public meetings;
- that elected officials and state employees shall have the same right to pray on public property as do other citizens;
- that ministers may be invited to offer invocations at public meetings;
- that students shall have the right to exercise religious expression;
- and that public schools be required to display copies of the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution in a conspicuous place.
McGhee, who attends weekly prayer meetings in the Capitol as well as Sunday worship services at First Baptist Church, Odessa, says he discussed the proposed amendment with his pastor and other clergy before introducing it. He feels it is a good piece of legislation and is optimistic about its passage.
Kerry Messer, lobbyist for Missouri Baptist Convention’s Christian Life Commission, said the legislation is needed. “There is systemic public ignorance about interaction with public buildings, especially with students in public schools,” he said.
“Teachers don’t know. Administrators are afraid of lawsuits. School boards don’t want to tackle it. We live in a cultural atmosphere of repression toward students’ rights to express their religious liberty.”
Messer noted that President Bill Clinton, during his time in office, ordered the Secretary of Education to clarify citizens’ religious freedom rights. The secretary sent letters to every school in the nation, outlining students’ rights to express themselves. However, Messer said, “when you go from public school district to public school district, there’s no consistent understanding of the application of the law.”
While the bill does seem to have support in the Legislature, attempts were made to amend a phrase that refers to a citizen’s right to acknowledge Almighty God. One would have inserted the words “the Saints, or the Virgin Mary” after the word “God.” Another would have inserted “or Allah” in that space and another would have inserted the words “Supreme Being.” All were defeated.
Under the Dome, a newsletter published weekly by Messer’s Missouri Family Network organization, explained that the amendments were rejected after Rep. Jim Avery-St. Louis, offered an additional amendment listing the names of almost 8,000 gods to make the point that “Almighty God” is above all.
HJR 55 was approved by the House of Representatives on a 132-11-2 vote. It was sent to the Senate where it was introduced by Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, and is currently awaiting action in that legislative body.
This article is reprinted from the March 25, 2008, issue of The Pathway, the newspaper of the Missouri Baptist Convention.
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