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Missouri Passes 'Right to Pray' Amendment by Over 600,000 Votes

August 8, 2012|10:44 am

 

 

 

On Tuesday, voters in Missouri expressed their views concerning religious freedomand overwhelmingly approved a state constitutional amendment that supporters feel will protect it.

 

 

 

The measure, known as Amendment 2 but commonly referred to as the "Right to Pray" amendment, gives Missourians the right to express religious beliefs in public without fear of their freedom to do so being limited.

The amendment also protects voluntary prayer in public schools and requires public schools to display a copy of the Bill of Rights.

With only a few precincts statewide not officially counted, the number of votes which garnered a supportive vote were 779,628; 162,404 voted no, which meant the victory was a landslide at more than a 4-1 margin, with religious freedom winning by 617,224 votes.

 

 

Missouri voters believe "religious liberty is pretty important to them and a high priority," Kerry Messer, president of the Missouri Family Network, told the Kansas City Star.

"The public feels like the Supreme Court took this away from them over 50 years ago with a ruling against mandatory school prayer," he added.


 

But not everyone is excited about this new piece of legislation, claiming that it is redundant.

Alex Luchenitser of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which opposed the measure, explained that he was not surprised with the outcome of the vote.

"This amendment promotes unconstitutional conduct … It's going to result in a whole lot of litigation." But it is still not clear what if any immediate impact the amendment, which takes effect in 30 days, will have.

 

 

But not everyone is excited about this new piece of legislation, claiming that it is redundant.

Alex Luchenitser of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which opposed the measure, explained that he was not surprised with the outcome of the vote.

"This amendment promotes unconstitutional conduct … It's going to result in a whole lot of litigation." But it is still not clear what if any immediate impact the amendment, which takes effect in 30 days, will have.

The new amendment broadly expands the protections in the state's constitution by adding new sections on religious issues. The Western District of the Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the amendment in June.

"The proposed amendment makes certain or sa***uards the right to freedom of religious expression by setting forth specific ways to avoid infringing upon this right," the court wrote in the opinion.

The amendment was introduced by Missouri Representative Michael McGhee in late 2010 and passed by the state legislature in 2011.

consider this warning Paul gave: "See then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off" (Rom. 11:22)

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Pretty good political "trick" if you ask me. I have no doubt that the voters think they were voting for something important, some "right" they didn't have now, or were convinced they were losing. I'd even go as far as to guess some think it means that NOW schools can force kids to pray. It looks like the gullible in both parties "got took" on this one. What next-an amendment protecting their right to eat chocolate?

I agree with Jank, and Jen on this , but we hear this crap all the time - can't pray in schools, God taken out of our schools, on and on, and all false, or misleading. 

Until Bill O'riley showed up , I never knew there was a "war on Christmas" , but he hounds on it every year.

Iike Jen said, it is a political trick , probably started by some church group to incite the gullible, and just outright stupid people that would think they are loosing some liberty.

There is one simple truth about our Constitution - every change (amendment) that has ever been made to it was to expand the rights of citizens except for one, and thankfully, FDR signed the amendment that repealed it. Unless some religious zealots get something going, I doubt that we will ever see any amendments to restrict anyone's right to pray . However, the current presidential challenger and his running mate are both in agreement to restrict a woman's right to use of birth control,. Whether they could ever get that passed as the law of the land or not, I hope we don't get the opportunity to see.

Originally Posted by vplee123:
I don't know how anyone can say that prayer has NOT been taken out of schools, it simply has been taken out. Didn't you start every school morning with the Lords prayer over the announcements? We did, and now it is gone. It's just that simple.

____

No, NO, NO, NO and NO! The unconstitutional practice of having public school students recite a prayer the content of which is prescribed by government (state legislatures, public school officials or other instrumentalities of civil government) is prohibited.  Private prayers in school or student-initiated prayers within the school that are not recited within a venue where a captive student audience is present and are not in any way controlled by government  are permitted. Yes, the "Lord's Prayer" and other prayers, most of which were Christian in nature ("in Jesus' name, Amen") were long prescribed by civil government to be prayed in public school classrooms, but that practice was unconstitutional, irrespective of how long it endured, since it overtly constituted an endorsement of one particular religious viewpoint.

 

I, for one, do not want any school board, state legislature or other instrumentality of  GOVERNMENT telling my children or grandchildren  WHETHER or not to pray, WHAT to pray for, to WHOM to pray, in whose NAME to pray, or WHEN to pray,  or to otherwise prescribe or control the content or exercise of prayer or other religious activity carried out when and where my children or grandchildren are in custody of any instrumentality of civil government.  It is decidedly NOT the role of government to prescribe or oversee religious activity. I am amused and even amazed when  conservative religionists, who demand that government intrude in their personal and private lives as little as possible, nevertheless are willing to permit the GOVERNMENT to dictate the content, timing, and purposes of prayers prescribed for their own children, thus intruding GOVERNMENT into what ought to be considered among the very most personal and private of activities. 

Yeah, I can see that contendah... I'm not saying I feel it was wrong to stop the mandatory prayer- just simply that it obviously has been removed. God no longer has a place in public school- that was my only statement. I suppose I Gould have clarified that God doesn't have a place mandated in the school system ;-) I personally believe a moment of silence could suffice and make everyone happy..

 

SCHOOL BANS STUDENT’S ROSARY OVER FEARS IT COULD BE A GANG SYMBOL

Last year, a sixth-grader from Fremont, Nebraska, was banned from wearing her rosary-like necklace at school. Now, months later, another religious flap is unfolding in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, where 15-year-old Jake Balthazor has been told that he cannot wear the rosary he purchased to support his cancer-stricken grandmother. In both instances, school officials’ fears that the necklaces would indicate gang membership were cited as the basis for the bans.

Originally Posted by vplee123:
Yeah, I can see that contendah... I'm not saying I feel it was wrong to stop the mandatory prayer- just simply that it obviously has been removed. God no longer has a place in public school- that was my only statement. I suppose I Gould have clarified that God doesn't have a place mandated in the school system ;-) I personally believe a moment of silence could suffice and make everyone happy..

============

WHY is it even necessary to have prayer in school to begin with? I don't see the reason for prayer or a "moment of silence". If you call for a "moment of silence" what you're saying is, "all the religious people will now pray, in school for some reason, and while they do you have to be quiet". That is the exact same thing as telling them to "bow their heads and pray".School is supposed to be for learning, all the religious trappings have their place in private homes and churches. They wouldn't call for a moment of silence in a restaurant to allow some customers to pray, why do it in a school? 

Originally Posted by vplee123:
Yeah, I can see that contendah... I'm not saying I feel it was wrong to stop the mandatory prayer- just simply that it obviously has been removed. God no longer has a place in public school- that was my only statement. I suppose I Gould have clarified that God doesn't have a place mandated in the school system ;-) I personally believe a moment of silence could suffice and make everyone happy..
============================================================================

No Vplee, when I was in school , mostly in the '50s , we didn't start any day with a prayer over the intercom. First place, there was no such thing as an intercom in our school.

We DID , however, start football games with a paryer led by a local preacher.

There was a reason that school mandated prayer was ended; at the time there was quite a bit of fear about the upcoming religious group that seemed to be everywhere the "Hare Krishnas " and their chant. It was so compelling that a lot of Christians even supported George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" that has the chant in it.

In more modern terms, would you want your children subjected to prayer rugs and facing Mecca for prayer 5 times a day ?  Nothing could stop that if prayer were still forced upon the captive audience of school children.

We have a secular government, and it is better to have a secular school system.

Want your kids to have a corporate prayer every day, send them to church schools.

 

That also brings about another topic: didn't Jesus say if you wanted to pray, to go into a closet (or small room ) , and not do it aloud ?   Better for Christians to follow Jesus teachings than the religious rants of a bunch of people who thump the Bible they haven't read, and school children of all ages can still go to a quite place and pray , you know, like Jesus told us to do.

Originally Posted by House of David:

 

SCHOOL BANS STUDENT’S ROSARY OVER FEARS IT COULD BE A GANG SYMBOL

Last year, a sixth-grader from Fremont, Nebraska, was banned from wearing her rosary-like necklace at school. Now, months later, another religious flap is unfolding in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, where 15-year-old Jake Balthazor has been told that he cannot wear the rosary he purchased to support his cancer-stricken grandmother. In both instances, school officials’ fears that the necklaces would indicate gang membership were cited as the basis for the bans.

___

You can't cure stupidity, but these silly actions by school fools do not change the fact that  gummint- prescribed prayer in public schools is unconstitutional.

HOD

Schools have all kinds of dress codes. Shorts have to be below the finger tips, skirts must not be too short. Boys have to tuck in their shirts...etc...

 

What does that have to do with a child being able to pray whenever they want to?

 

Contendah,

 

I agree 100%. With the Muslim community growing rapidly in this country, it will not be too much longer until they are the majority religion. How many Christian parents want little Johnny to be made to pray to Allah every morning before school starts, or to have Islamic symbols and school policies based on Islamic religion all over the schools? Not one I would guess.

 

Separation of church and state is there for a very good reason, and it needs to stay in place.

 

This amendment in Missouri is ridiculous. As others have said it is redundant and a way to make Christians believe they are fighting the good fight. I can't believe how many have fallen for this political grand standing.

Originally Posted by House of David:

Seaweed,

 

Jesus also said: 

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

 

Awesome! Then why do Christians feel they need laws and amendments to force the issue? Seems to me that if you have a strong belief and faith Jesus is everywhere anyway. Why do others have to join in by mandate for it to be heard by Jesus?

 

Maybe that is not what you are saying. If not please explain.

Originally Posted by Bestworking:
Originally Posted by vplee123:
Yeah, I can see that contendah... I'm not saying I feel it was wrong to stop the mandatory prayer- just simply that it obviously has been removed. God no longer has a place in public school- that was my only statement. I suppose I Gould have clarified that God doesn't have a place mandated in the school system ;-) I personally believe a moment of silence could suffice and make everyone happy..

============

WHY is it even necessary to have prayer in school to begin with? I don't see the reason for prayer or a "moment of silence". If you call for a "moment of silence" what you're saying is, "all the religious people will now pray, in school for some reason, and while they do you have to be quiet". That is the exact same thing as telling them to "bow their heads and pray".School is supposed to be for learning, all the religious trappings have their place in private homes and churches. They wouldn't call for a moment of silence in a restaurant to allow some customers to pray, why do it in a school? 

**********************************

Agreed.

quote:  Originally Posted by Jennifer Bestworking:
WHY is it even necessary to have prayer in school to begin with? I don't see the reason for prayer or a "moment of silence".If you call for a "moment of silence" what you're saying is, "all the religious people will now pray, in school for some reason, and while they do you have to be quiet". That is the exact same thing as telling them to "bow their heads and pray".School is supposed to be for learning, all the religious trappings have their place in private homes and churches. They wouldn't call for a moment of silence in a restaurant to allow some customers to pray, why do it in a school?

Hi Jennifer,

 

Well, Jennifer, I suppose this is because we give far too much credit to atheists.  We honestly believe that it causes no physical or mental harm to atheists -- to stay silent for fifteen seconds.

 

Of course, we could be wrong.  And, I am beginning to believe, based upon my dialogues with you, that we are wrong.  For, I do not believe you can be silent, and stop spewing your hatred of God, the Bible, and Christians -- for fifteen seconds. 

 

It is my opinion, and only my opinion -- that if you tried that, you would have a serious case of mental constipation.  And, since you and I are Friends -- I would not wish that upon you.

 

Oh, all right -- now you can go ahead with the atheist stoning!  I am wearing my Jennifer-proof vest!

 

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

 

Bill

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Originally Posted by House of David:

Seaweed,

 

Jesus also said: 

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

 

Ain't that what church , or home prayer meetings are for ?

 

I think it does a great deal of disservice to the Cause of Christianity for people to make idiots of themselves "in the name of the Lord". Street preachers, people who try to force THEIR particular brand of religion down others throats , and people making a public specticle and or nuisance of themselves to get noticed . In general most people just think these people are nuts. I have said many times I am glad I got saved before this current bunch of nutcase Evangelical preachers came along. Nothing could turn me off more than to listen to Faldwell, or Robertson, or any of that bunch. 

Church attendance has fallen in recent years, and to a great extent I think that is because of the nutcases that most sane people don't want to be associated with. ie: a certain frequent poster on this very forum.

Hi Seeweed,

 

You tell us, "'For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.'   Ain't that what church , or home prayer meetings are for?"

 

So, Seeweed, you suggest we limit God -- and only bring Him out when we are using the good china -- right?   Why?  What frightens you when God is allowed into our public life?   My Friend, I give you my solemn promise -- God will not force you to believe.   He gave you, me, and everyone the gift of "free will."   So, if you want to continue disliking, or even hating, God -- He gives you that choice.

 

Of course, later on you will be asked to account for that wrong choice.  But, by then, it will be too late.

 

Just maybe a few prayers on your part -- will pay great dividends later on.  Sure is worth the effort.

 

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

 

Bill

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