FOXNews.com: Missouri Votes to Fortify Right to Public Prayer

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Missouri Votes to Fortify Right to Public Prayer Aug 8th 2012, 00:23 Missouri residents will vote Tuesday on a proposed amendment to the state constitution that proponents say will help ensure the right to pray in public. The proposed amendment is on a statewide ballot and is expected to pass by a wide margin, according to a recent poll. Critics say the right to pray is already protected under the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. State GOP Rep. Mike McGhee and other supporters agree, but they say Amendment 2 is really an effort to make the state constitution match the U.S. Constitution and protect Christianity, which they say is under attack. McGhee, whose legislation led to the proposed amendment, told FoxNews.com about an incident in which a teacher told a kindergartner singing "Jesus Loves Me" while swinging on the playground to instead sing "mommy loves me." McGhee thinks the teacher simply didn't know the law and said the proposed amendment attempts to make clear such rights. But critics say the proposed amendment, if passed, will open the door to more lawsuits. Democratic State Rep. Chris Kelly told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the proposed amendment is "a jobs bill for lawyers." The newspaper conducted a recent poll that found 82 percent of those surveyed would likely vote in favor of Amendment 2, with 14 percent voting "no" and  4 percent undecided. Critics dismiss the argument about rising hostility toward Christianity. They argue a proposed amendment that reaffirms "the right to pray in a private or public setting" might lead to the exclusion of prayer from Muslim or Jewish religions, for example, which could triggers some of the likely suits. Regardless, observers say the outcome of the vote likely will be challenged in federal court. Another part of the proposed amendment sparking controversy is a section that reads "no student shall be compelled to perform or participate in academic assignments or educational presentations that violate his or her religious beliefs." Critics say schools will be forced to make perhaps an endless number of decisions on which assignments violate beliefs, if the proposed amendment passes. McGhee confirmed the section is rooted in a 2006 case, in which a Christian student at Missouri State University was asked as part of a class project to write and sign a letter to the Missouri legislature in support of gay adoption. McGhee, whose District 122 is southeast of Kansas City, pointed out the 2006 case was quickly settled out of court, and he doesn't see the proposed amendment resulting in cases of "It's against my religion to do algebra." He also hopes the proposed amendment if passed will prompt other states to take up similar measures.

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