Missourians will vote tomorrow on an amendment to their state constitution that would guarantee them the right to pray in public.
The wording of the amendment would "ensure that any person shall have the right to pray individually or corporately in a private or public setting," and polling indicates that about 80% of Missouri voters support it. This is not surprising, given that 80% of Missourians are Christians.
But critics worry the amendment could create scenarios where people feel uncomfortable not praying, or praying according to their own religion.
We're asking our political bloggers this week what they think about Missouri's right to pray amendment -- in the meantime, we want to hear from you.
Let us know what you think of the amendment in the comments. Would you support it?
Here's how the amendment is explained on the Missouri ballot:
A "yes" vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to provide that neither the state nor political subdivisions shall establish any official religion. The amendment further provides that a citizen's right to express their religious beliefs regardless of their religion shall not be infringed and that the right to worship includes prayer in private or public settings, on government premises, on public property, and in all public schools. The amendment also requires public schools to display the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution.
A "no" vote will not change the current constitutional provisions protecting freedom of religion.
One potentially problematic part of the amendment states that "no student shall be compelled to perform or participate in academic assignments or educational presentations that violate his or her religious beliefs."
This leads to questions about defining exactly what would violate one's religious beliefs, and how it would do that. And questions often lead to lawsuits -- which taxpayers would have to defend.
Science teachers in Missouri have expressed concerns if the amendment passes about their ability to teach evolution, climate change, and the use of geology in determining the age of the earth.
According to the Huffington Post, though, supporters say the amendment will counter the current "hostility toward Christians."
Yet others question how Christians can feel hostility in a state where they make up 80 percent of the population.
Here's what our political bloggers have to say about right to pray amendments:
Hey Missouri, Americans Already Have the Right to Pray (Or Not)
Right to Pray Amendment Protects as Much as Right Not to Pray
Image via Irina Petruscu/Flickr
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Comments 19
Stupid and asking for problems.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etljQLaGyiM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT-aNRI9gtg
They're praying too. They're also blocking homes and stores and even traffic and refuse to move to let people through and of course this happens three times a day, but hey, why not offer even more legal protection for that sort of behavior? Or is it only legal protection for prayers for the Christian God?
Or...how about you just keep it in your own home?
People already have the right to pray whenever, where ever. What they don't have the right to is to make a public spectacle, to disrupt others lives, or to use their "right to pray" as a protest tool and trump card to oppress others rights to freedom of speech, religion, and self determination. That is the REAL reason they want this. I hope they don't pass it, and if they do, I want every Non Christian Religion out there to go and exercise it to the fullest until they repeal it.
@cmjaz - actually, most everyone nowadays can't say what they believe without some sort of persecution. be it your belief in God or your belief in gay marriage or your belief in the GOP or the Libs... everything has a slant, there's always someone out there that disagrees with your opinion...
i personally think the problem with an amendment like that is that the thinking is "this protects Christians". guess what? it also protects Muslims, Buddhists, Satanists... the list goes on and on. they think they are giving the ok to Christians to pray (which i'm pretty sure they can already do so long as it's not interfering with another's rights, as someone else mentioned) but they're choosing to ignore the other groups this will affect. i'm pretty sure if you suddenly started having Muslims openly praying multiple times a day in the town square of Springfield, MO people might start talking... just saying...
As long as people understand that christianity isn't the only religion in this country and that everyone has a right to pray to whomever they please. Don't be bitching at those who pray to someone other than the christian God. It's just prayer in public after all. I didn't think there wasn't a right to pray in public to begin with.
Forgive me, I'm not well-versed on this topic, but... isn't this sort of redundant? Doesn't the U.S. Constitution already protect our Freedom of Religion?
A rational person would likely agree that the First Amendment protects a person's right to pray in public, even in a public building. The right to Freely Assemble kind of hooks into it - you can pray, in a group, in public.
I agree that blocking access to places might be an issue, but that also applies to protests such as the recent OWS gatherings - get your permit, have your protest, whether it's shouting about Wall Street or quietly praying.
I recall Yoga gatherings in NYC and other places. Yoga has become a fitness craze, but it started as a form of religious meditation. Those gatherings are done in public, and experience no harrassment.
I guess my ramblings lead to this: why do Missourians feel they need this, when it's already guaranteed by the US Constitution? Unless, of course, their state constitution was written to mirror the U.S., and this "freedom of religion/prayer" clause was left out. THEN I can understand the desire to add it.
Nowadays, it seems that no matter who you are or what you believe, it's always good to have something in place to cover your a**.
I believe everyone has the right to pray whenever and wherever they want, just like they have the right NOT to.
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