Thursday's National Day of Prayer was marked by a ceremony on the steps of City Hall attended by about 100 people.
The event, emceed by 4th District Alderman Jim Kaplan, included patriotic songs sung by Cheryl McCrary and the Heir-Born Praise Band, and prayers led by Dave Ackerman, Chaplain Cornelius Gordon, Stuart Nelson, Jim Pfau and Tom Ginski. They prayed for the country, our soldiers, those in prison, and the unborn.
Mayor John Dickert read a city proclamation and urged those present to "put our energy into what brings us together, not into what separates us." Dickert noted that National Day of Prayer dates back to 1775, when it was first declared by the Continental Congress. Kaplan said he was pleased that the Mayor read the city's proclamation; this was the first time in five years, Kaplan said, that the mayor had done so. For all those other years Kaplan read it.
Last month, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional, saying the law creating it is a call to religious action. Despite the Madison judge's ruling, Gov. Jim Doyle was scheduled to issue his own proclamation today observing the day. Enforcement of Judge Crabb's ruling is on hold, pending appeals.
Here are some pictures from the ceremony, conducted under the billowing City Hall flag high above.
Stuart Nelson plays 'Taps;' at right, 'Union Soldier' Tom Ginski
Who is paying for the electricity for the PA/amps etc.? I'm all for freedom of religion and speech; and I know that it's not a significant amount of money, but pray at home or church on you own dime.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to separation of church and state? This is getting ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI believe God provided the 10 cents' worth of electricity. Either that, or somebody took up a collection. For heaven's sakes, 10:26, get a life.
ReplyDeleteThe Racine Tea Party put out an email inviting everyone to come to the event with thanks to the City Hall staff. Is it just me or isn't it odd that for a group who wants smaller government to praise the City for helping out with an event that has nothing to do with actual city business?
ReplyDeleteI mean I don't really care if you want to pray or not. That's freedom. But these guys protest government takeover while they expect to be allowed to pray on public property is pretty hypocritical.
It's not for me, but who cares. You guys sure sweat the little stuff - get a life.
ReplyDeletefor those confused about the church and state thing, read the constitution. It says, the government will not impose a national religion. It does not prohibit people from exercising their rights to practice their faith. We sure need the prayer.
ReplyDeleteAnon 12:09 -- It is not as simple as saying the government will not impose a national religion. The US Constitution says three things about religion. 1) There shall be no law respecting the establishment of religion; 2) there shall be no law prohibiting the free exercise of relgion; and 3) no religious test shall ever be imposed for any office or public trust.
ReplyDeleteHistorically, courts who have interpreted the meaning of "respecting the establishment of religion," have said it means that government shall not support religion -- not any particular religion alone, but religion generally.
That said, it does seem like this is a pretty diminimis amount of "support."
God doesn't take sides. He/She is for what is right. God bless the world.
ReplyDeleteOne Nation Under God......In GOD we Trust...(check your government issued money please if you don't believe what America was founded on and "truly" stands for or "stood" for by the comments of this crowd??{lol, I am NOT a monkey's uncle!! :oP}})......God Bless America <3...love, joy & peace out peoples!
ReplyDeleteEvery year the atheists shoot down the National Day of Prayer. Your beliefs are taken from court decisions by activist judges and writings of our founding fathers taken out of context and misinterpreted. This land of freedoms has been distorted to an obscene level (i.e. pornography, flag burning, unbridled swearing, and flagrant religious attacks on Christians). Don't know what all you atheists are afraid of. Conversion? Go about your business and stop fretting about a one-hour peaceful public gathering (which is also protected by law) and start worrying about your nestegg and your freedoms that Obama the Muslim is trying to get his greedy hands on. You should be more worried about the state of the Nation than the fact that citizens are praying for it!
ReplyDeleteP.S. 12:17 What the heck is diminimis? No such word in my dictionary. If you mean that the crowd was rather small, just remember that many people are at work and/or don't have time to attend a ceremony. That doesn't dimish the importance of gathering for prayer.
Sorry, I didn't have my glasses on. I meant diminish the importance of gathering for prayer
ReplyDeletepray all you want get rid of that damn flag though. God doesnt take sides. If you pray with an American flag in your hand your an abomination in the eyes of God and you will be smited.
ReplyDelete