David Vitter: “last Thursday was designated as a National Day of Prayer. I began the day at a prayer breakfast with the people of…”

“last Thursday was designated as a National Day of Prayer. I began the day at a prayer breakfast with the people of Tangipahoa, LA, whose school board was recently the subject of a Federal court ruling against prayer at board meetings. This February 24 ruling, by U.S. District Court Judge Ginger Berrigan of New Orleans, was filed by an unnamed individual with the backing of the American Civil Liberties Union. The purpose of the lawsuit was to stop prayers at Tangipahoa Parish School Board meetings. In her ruling against the school board, Judge Berrigan said: [i]n officially promoting a religious practice at its governmental meetings, the board is doing what its schools and teachers cannot do, favor religion over non-religion and endorse particular religious faiths. If this ruling stands, school boards in other parts of Louisiana as well as school boards across the country could be subjected to similar lawsuits. Many have joined me in criticizing this February 24 ruling, including the Democratic Governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Blanco, who called for the school board to appeal the decision to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. As stated by Governor Blanco: I believe that such prayers are entirely appropriate, constitutional, and in keeping with a practice in our nation that dates back to the Continental Congress.…”