January 24, 2002

Once again, Rep. Ernest Istook (RE-Oklahoma) has introduced legislation that would amend the US Constitution in order to permit organized prayer in public schools.

H.J. Res. 81 was introduced last December. It has now been referred to the House Judiciary Committee's "Subcommittee on the Constitution" as a prelude for a full vote. So far, the measure has 74 co-sponsors. It reads:

"To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience:

"Neither the United States nor any State shall establish any official religion, but the people's reight to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage, and traditions on public property, including schools, shall not be infringed.

"The United States and the States shall not compose school prayers, nor require any person to join in prayer or other religious activity."

On the surface, the "School Prayer Amendment" states what the Constitution and the U.S. Supreme Court have already affirmed -- the government may not compose prayer, or overtly compel religious practice. But the Istook Amendment is an attempt to legitimize so-called "student led prayer" in public schools, or religious activities in a public setting where any majority (or a vocal minority) takes on the role of being prayer bullies. It is directly aimed at the Supreme Court's ruling in SANTA FE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT v. DOE which struck down "student led" prayer at high school athletic events.

"Student led" prayer is rarely spontaneously organized by students. Off-campus religious ministries and other groups have made prayer proselytizing a major goal. They seek to turn public schools and other sectarian institutions into houses of worship. "Student led" prayer would require ALL students to recognize a religious activity at events like athletic contests, graduation ceremonies and school assemblies. Experience has shows that students who fail to participate with this "majority rule" prayer are often isolated and harrassed. They can even become victims of violence and threats!

This type of organized and conspicuous public prayer is different from the right which Americans of all faiths have -- to pray in private or in a house of worship on their own time. (Even Jesus supposedly instructed his followers to not be "hypocrites" by praying in public, and instead worship silently in closets -- See Matthew: 6, 5-6.) Even religious youngsters in public schools can pray on their own -- before meals, walking in hallways, on the bus or in voluntary clubs. "Student led" prayer is coercive. It requires ALL to either join in the activity, or interrupt an event and stand silent while watching others perform a prayer ritual.

America is a diverse culture. The recent ARIS (Americsan Religious Identification Survey) showed that nearly 14% of the population affirms "no religion." There are millions of Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists and others who have no religious beliefs. They should not be forced to engage in religious activity, or have government organize and enable such a practice.

STOP THE ISTOOK AMENDMENT!

Your letters to Congress are needed now to stop the Istook Amendment.

* Find out who your representative is and where to write. The mail is flowing once again in our nation's capitol. We urge you to send a typed or hand-written letter, or send a fax, since these have far more impact than alternatives such as e-mail.

* Keep your letter brief, polite and to the point. Check out our TIPS ON WRITING CONGRESS. We'll publish same letters as we receive them here on the ACTION website. (Send us a copy to ccletters@atheists.org.)

Join us in stopping the School Prayer Amendment! Together, we can keep our public schools and government institutions free of "prayer bullying" and other unconstitutional and improper religious practice!

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