4/22/09
On Monday the Missouri House of Representatives voted 127-25 to grant initial approval to a proposed constitutional amendment which would guarantee the right of everyone, including government officials (individually or in groups) to pray anywhere, including government facilities (including schools), and at anytime, including government functions, as long as the prayer is voluntary and not generally disruptive (whatever that means). This resolution must be approved by the House again at a later date, then the Senate, and finally passed by voters in a statewide ballot.
This bill is being touted as a clarification of existing law and not as new law. It's sponsor, Mike McGhee, R-Odessa said the amendment would not permit anything not currently permitted. One might wonder why an amendment which is intended to change nothing is being proposed.
I fear that this amendment, if passed, will give religionists a quick and easy weapon with which to promote their particular religious opinions and conduct their particular rituals with the seeming endorsement of local and state governments and public schools. I have contacted my Representative to express my concern over this legislation and I urge you to as well.
You can find your Missouri state legislators here:
Here is a short Associated Press article about the resolution:
The text of the proposed amendment:
The text of Article 1 Section 5 of the Missouri Constitution which the proposed amendment would replace:
Thank you
--
Greg Lammers
Missouri State Director
American Atheists
http://www.atheists.org/
http://missouriatheists.org/
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