Washington, D.C.—Now that a federal judge has declared the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional, the future of the annual event is up in the air. The 59th annual event was held May 6, despite an April ruling by U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb. She said the law establishing an official prayer day violates the ban on government-backed religion.

In her ruling, Crabb said the day’s “sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function.” Prayer, she added, is a “matter that must be left to individual conscience.”

Although President Obama didn’t participate in any prayer events, he issued a proclamation calling on Americans to pray “for God’s continued guidance, grace, and protection as we meet the challenges before us.”

Andrea Lafferty, Traditional Values Coalition director, said, “I can’t remember a time when America was more in need of God’s blessing.”

Prayer Day organizer Shirley Dobson said she’s determined not to let “a small band of self-proclaimed atheists and agnostics…take down this magnificent day.”

But even some religious groups agree with Crabb’s ruling. K. Hollyn Hollman, representing a Baptist religious-liberty committee, said, “The problem with the National Day of Prayer is that it is an official act of the government urging citizens to engage in a religious exercise.”

The Rev. Franklin Graham, whose comments about Islam got him uninvited from a Pentagon prayer event, said, “I think there are many Christians in America today who feel that we are losing our freedoms while people of other faiths are gaining their freedom.”

Graham added that without prayer in public schools, many “young people today don’t understand what’s right and wrong.”

Sources: CNN.com, foxnews.com, Associated Press

Discussion Questions:

• Did you observe the National Day of Prayer? If so, how? Do you expect the day to be abolished or to continue, in some fashion? Explain.

• In your opinion, does this prayer day violate America’s separation of church and state? Does that separation mean that government can have nothing to do with religion whatsoever?

• Do you think most Americans feel obligated to participate in the National Day of Prayer? Why or why not? If participating is voluntary, does that mean it’s okay to have such an observance? Why or why not?

• Should prayer be just between individuals and God? Why or why not? If a prayer day doesn’t specify which god people should communicate with, then is it constitutional? Explain.

• How do you feel about the statement that prayer serves no secular function? Can prayer affect a country as a whole? If so, explain.

• Do you pray for America and its leaders? Why or why not? What would you say are the country’s greatest needs and challenges right now? How might God work to intervene and answer prayers about these things?

• As a Christian, do you feel like you’re losing your freedoms? Why or why not? What do you think it would be like to live in a country where prayer and worship were banned?

• Have you ever felt obligated to pray? If so, explain. How do you approach God about issues that are tough to put into words? What are some sincere ways to keep in touch with God?

Scripture links: 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, Ezekiel 39:25-29, Daniel 9:15-19, Matthew 6:5-8, James 5:13-18, and 1 Peter 2:13-17.

Stephanie Martin is a freelance writer and editor in Colorado.