by Vincent R. Caravan

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) is mobilizing its forces for battle against the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The basis is a legal case for the abolishment of National Day of Prayer, which is May 6.

In 1953, Congress designated the first Thursday in May as National Day of Prayer and President Truman signed it into Law. Its founder, Mrs. Shirley Dobson, also is being sued by Freedom From Religion Foundation.

It has been estimated that two million Americans participate in this prayer event each year. The FFRF wants it abolished this year for good.

For two hundred years, faith in God was fostered by our federal government leaders, from the very beginning of George Washington’s battlefield days through his presidency and right up to the current administration.

The two most critical wars in our history are the American Revolution and World War II. The odds against America’s winning them were exceedingly high. Yet, a determined people fighting with more heart than firearms did just that.

Since Washington’s time, we have fought to protect our freedoms, and we have succeeded. Our leaders have never enacted laws mandating that daily prayer and weekly services be disallowed. Neither did it abolish freedom to worship. It always has encouraged it. Now, the atheists want to de-Christianize America.

They already have succeeded in stripping away some of our religious reminders that publicly provided reminders of our heritage. They have eliminated God from our Pledge of Allegiance and on our coins; and prayer in our schools.

It used to be that children went to school and listened to the teacher read a Bible verse daily and then salute the flag before starting reading, writing and arithmetic. Now comes ACLU and it wants drastic changes made—preferably the elimination of anything religious in public view.

In Washington’s day, not every American was as pious as he was, but they did not criticize him for it. Neither was Washington’s piety forced on non-believers.

The ACLU would have all evidences of religion abolished. This country was founded as a Christian nation. That does not mean all others will be persecuted, but it means any other group can supplant it or make this a non-believing nation.