Over the past 40 year period that prayer in public schools has become an "issue", basic family morals have been in a steady decline. Divorce rates are higher. Domestic violence has increased. Diseases such as alcoholism and gambling have reached an all time high. our children now, more than ever, need to pray; yet they are banned from doing so in their own schools.
On March 14, 2000 93.93% (909,011 people) of the voters in the Republican Primary in Texas voted YES to the Question: Shall student initiated prayer be allowed at school sporting events.
Three months later, on June 21, 2000, the United States Supreme Court, in a 6 to 3 vote, ruled to BAR officials from letting students lead stadium crowds in prayer before football games.
A Gallup Poll (August 2001) found that 78% of the American people favored "a constitutional amendment to allow voluntary prayer in public schools".
While a Constitutional Amendment on Prayer in Public Schools was voted on in the United States House of Representatives in 1998 (224 Members voted YES) it failed to attain the necessary 2/3 majority to be sent to the United States Senate for consideration.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
This meant that while 78% of the American people want a Constitutional Amendment to allow voluntary prayer in public schools (a number that is believed to be considerably higher, after the tragic events of September 11) Congress has not acted on the will of the people.
A Constitutional Amendment to allow voluntary prayer in public schools can be achieved through the same mechanism as has been used to resolve issues in 23 individual States and many foreign countries.
In 23 States and many foreign countries an issue that has the overwhelming support of the people but has not achieved Legislative success, as a Constitutional Amendment to allow voluntary prayer in public schools, would be placed on the ballot as a Referendum.
While the United States does not have a provision for National Referendum, (though a Time magazine poll showed that 76% favored National Referendum), Congress could vote to place on the ballot, for the 2002 election, a National Referendum on a Constitutional Amendment to allow voluntary prayer in public schools.
The people of the United States, for over 90 years, have voted on issues at the ballot box on the Statewide level. in 23 States there are provisions for Referendum and initiative on the Statewide level. In 49 States the electorate, in a Referendum, must approve State Constitutional Amendments. Local Referendums and Town meetings take place in States across the country.
All over the world people are directly deciding, through National Referendums, major issues at the ballot box. In Russia the people have voted in a National Referendum for a new Constitution. In South Africa the people voted in a National Referendum on "continuing to negotiate an end to apartheid". In France and Denmark the people voted in National Referendums on economic unity of Europe. In Ireland the people have voted in a National Referendum on the issue of abortion.
In the history of the United States there have been times when Referendums played a decisive role in the passage of such unsolvable issues for their time, such as Woman Suffrage and Direct Election of United States Senators.
James Madison, a signatory of the United States Constitution and the forth President of the United States, believed that the "supreme authority" is the people. A National Referendum on a Constitutional Amendment to allow voluntary prayer in public schools would allow the "supreme authority" - the people - to be directly engaged and decide the issue of Voluntary Prayer in Public Schools.
On September 15 (A National Day of Prayer) children of the United States had to break the law in order to pray for the victims and their families of the September 11th attacks. We, as adults, prayed at work, prayed in shopping mails, prayed in public transportation and in our cars. President Bush prayed on National Television, yet the children of this Nation had to break the law to join us in prayer.