Prayer: futile and divisive

AMERICA’S National Day of Prayer – held each year on the first Thursday of May – creates

A hostile environment for non-believers, who are made to feel as if they are political outsiders.

So claims the US’s largest group of atheists and agnostics which – according to this report –  yesterday sued President Bush, the governor of Wisconsin and other officials over the federal law designating a National Day of Prayer.

Hmmm ... some strength, some shield!

The Freedom From Religion Foundation brought the case against the god-addled Bush and others  in the US district court, arguing that the president’s mandated proclamations calling on Americans to pray violates a constitutional ban on government officials endorsing religion.

The national proclamation issued this year asked God’s blessings on America and called for Americans to observe the day with appropriate programmes, ceremonies and activities.

Soon after, Hurricane Dolly hit Texas to create the worst agricultural disaster in decades. It leveled thousands of acres of farmland, causing millions of dollars in damage in Hidalgo County. Then along comes America’s worst financial crisis in almost 100 years.

The god of the Christians, it would appear, is one damned ungrateful bastard. That, or the old tyrant’s gone stone deaf in his dotage.

Wisconsin Gov Jim Doyle is named in the suit because he is one of 50 governors who issued proclamations calling for the prayer day.

Shirley Dobson, chairwoman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, and White House press secretary Dana Perino also are named.