On Thursday, April 15, in the state of Wisconsin a federal court judge ruled as “unconstitutional” something that almost every president in the history of our nation has supported – certainly each president within our lifetimes – as well as many of the signers of the US Constitution.

Judge Barbara Crabb of United States District Court in Madison, Wis., ruled that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional.

What is the National Day of Prayer? In 1777 it was the day that Congress set aside as a day of Thanksgiving to our “Divine Benefactor” for the new born United States.

In 1789 James Madison introduced the Bill of Rights to Congress; it included what we now call the First Amendment which reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The same Congress, which passed the First Amendment, asked President George Washington to declare a National Day of Prayer in 1789.

The president gladly complied, proclaiming, “It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.”

The finest minds in American history have long recognized that neither the Constitution, nor the Bill of Rights, guarantees the people “freedom from religion.” Rather, the law of our land requires the courts to refrain from creating laws which establish religion or prohibit free exercise of religion; proclaiming a day of prayer and thanksgiving neither establishes a religion nor prevents free exercise of it.

The lawsuit that led to the ruling last week was brought to the courts by a Madison, Wis.-based group called the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

Their Web site describes their mission as follows, “The nonprofit Freedom From Religion Foundation works to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism [sic],” and to promote the constitutional principle of separation between church and state.”

Separation of church and state was not a constitutional principle according to any of the signers of the Constitution. In fact, the phrase comes from a personal letter from President Thomas Jefferson written to a Baptist minister guaranteeing him that the state would not do the very things that the Freedom From Religion Foundation are now doing.

The most poignant proclamations calling for National Days of Prayer have come at the darkest moments of our history, and have expressed the sighs of our souls and longing for a better future for our country.

My personal favorite was Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation two months after using the Emancipation Act and months before the horrors of Gettysburg:

“Whereas, the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation. And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.”

There is an appalling hubris at work in the acts of organizations like the Freedom From Religion Foundation and Judge Crabb’s ruling which seek to strip America of its soul, leaving nothing but a political machine in its wake.

Evidently President Barack Obama also disagrees with Judge Crabb because he has pledged that on May 6 he will issue a proclamation calling for a National Day of Prayer.

As with many of our freedoms, we often fail to appreciate what we have until we are in danger of losing them.

Personally, when asked to help plan a National Day of Prayer event in Lakeport this year I said I was “too busy.” I see now a different response is required.

A National Day of Prayer event will be offered at United Christian Parish, 745 N Brush St. in Lakeport, on Thursday, May 6, at 6 p.m. All are welcome.

Rev. Shannon Kimbell-Auth pastors United Christian Parish in Lakeport, Calif.