How disheartening it is to hear that Gov. Paul LePage has issued a proclamation recognizing Aug. 6 as a “Day of Prayer and Fasting for Our Nation.”

Promoting religion from a government office is not only inappropriate, it is also in violation of the establishment clause of the United States Constitution. The clause of the First Amendment has been interpreted historically to prohibit preference by the U.S. government of one religion over another.

LePage’s endorsement of this event does just that, however, promoting Christianity directly from the Blaine House.

This “Day of Prayer and Fasting for Our Nation” is an explicitly Christian event promoted by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has invited his fellow Americans to a prayer gathering, “The Response,” in Houston. The event is hosted by American Family Association, an evangelical Christian organization.

For Gov. LePage to make this proclamation is offensive to all Mainers because it is an affront to our Constitution. It is not only atheists and non-Christians who are offended by this, but all those who respect the necessity of church/state separation.

It is simply not the place of a governor to express public support for a religiously exclusive event. It is, of course, LePage’s right ”“ and the right of all other Mainers ”“ to worship as they choose. If he were to attend as a private citizen, with no proclamation made, so be it. However, for our governor to officially proclaim support for any one religion over another, or for religion over irreligion, sends the message that he is not interested in representing all of us.

Advertisement

“The Response” is not so far removed from the National Day of Prayer, an event that is also sponsored by evangelical Christians and is traditionally recognized by the president. The Freedom From Religion Foundation ”“ one of the few legally active church/state separation watchdogs in this country ”“ lost its lawsuit on the National Day of Prayer due to a judgment of no standing ”“ the court’s way of skirting the issue. Now FFRF is suing Gov. Perry for his actions, and Maine will no doubt receive a letter from the foundation as well, warning LePage that he is violating the trust of         his office.

Thankfully, we have active organizations such as these to stay on top of reminding public officials of their obligation to keep church and state separate.

This past spring, we applauded Biddeford Mayor Joanne Twomey when she refused to issue a proclamation on the city’s behalf for the National Day of Prayer. Despite her personal beliefs and support of prayer in general, an FFRF letter helped her to recognize that it was not appropriate for a city official to endorse an explicitly Judeo-Christian event, such as it was, and cited the importance of church/state separation.

If only Gov. LePage could have had as much sense.

Most of those who support separation of church and state are not out to eradicate prayer in all instances, but simply to avoid official endorsement of religion. For an official of a secular entity that is supposed to represent all citizens, such as a public school or government office, it is offensive to endorse a religion from office.

The founders of this great country took pains to provide for religious freedom when they drafted the Constitution. For some reason, the Christian majority in this country sees nothing wrong with promotion of Christianity by government entities, but that is only because they are the majority.

Advertisement

Just this week, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and its bishop, Joseph Malone, announced that they support the “Day of Prayer and Fasting.” As Christian religious leaders, their support is not surprising, but perhaps it should be. The Bible itself urges believers to pray privately, calling out those who make a show of it as “hypocrites”:

“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.” (Matthew 6:5-7)

Clearly, Gov. Perry, with LePage in tow, is using religion here for political gain as he contemplates a run for president. Such an act should be frowned upon, rather than supported, by his fellow believers. And all citizens, religious or not, Christian or not, should recognize that government endorsement of religion is a dangerous move that can easily come back to bite you when you find yourself in the minority.

Ӣ Ӣ Ӣ

Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via e-mail at kristenm@journaltribune.com.



        Comments are not available on this story.