Things you can already do in the state of Missouri:
- Privately read a Bible in school
- Privately pray before a City Council meeting
- Privately pray in public spaces
Things a newly proposed Constitutional Amendment (sponsored by Republican Rep. Mike McGhee of Odessa) would allow people in Missouri to do:
- Privately read a Bible in school
- Privately pray before a City Council meeting
- Privately pray in public spaces
So why even bother with the legislation?
McGhee said he sponsored the legislation for five straight years because of a fear that government would use the separation of church and state as a reason to keep people from privately praying on public property.
“If voters approve this, it will send a message that the citizens of the state believe it’s OK to read a Bible in study hall,” McGhee said. “That it’s OK to pray briefly before a City Council meeting. That’s what we were trying to do by bringing this amendment forward.”
…
“This was such a meaningless amendment, we just didn’t feel like we needed to put forth the effort to stop it this year,” [Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City] said. “It doesn’t do anything at all, so I just decided to focus on trying to stop bills that actually do harm.”
I’ve never heard a church/state separation advocate or ACLU member try to shut down someone’s right to pray privately — in fact, that’d go against what they stand for. McGhee’s fear is unwarranted and this Amendment is a waste of time, whether the voters like it or not.
The Amendment had passed in the Missouri House 126-30 back in March and it passed in the Missouri Senate 34-0 on Tuesday. Voters will get to decide its fate in November, 2012. You can read the full text of the bill here.
Even though it seems like a certain victory for McGhee, Chad Garrison doesn’t think he’s going to be thrilled with the results:
We’ll see if McGhee continues to whistle that tune when — following passage of the amendment — a practicing Muslim dares to get on his knees inside the state Capitol and pray in the direction of Mecca.
I sincerely hope that happens.
Better yet, get a group of Muslims in there. And have them fight to lead those City Council invocations, too.
(What’s wrong, McGhee…? Is that not what you meant?)
I love the picture and caption that accompanies Garrison’s blog post:

(Thanks to William for the link!)
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