Please take action to keep the state government from telling Kentucky students to pray!
The Kentucky House of Representatives recently passed HB 40, a bill that would require the governor to declare a “Day of Prayer for Kentucky’s Students.” This bill is a pandering waste of time at best and unconstitutional at worst. Please take a moment to tell the members of the Senate Education Committee to vote against this bill.
Just like the National Day of Prayer, this transparent promotion of religion is inappropriate, unnecessary and constitutionally problematic. Pretending that prayers will help students does less than nothing. Instead, Kentucky lawmakers should seek to address students’ real-world problems with real-world solutions.
News media reports that (www.religionnews.com/2018/03/19/kentucky-considers-law-on-student-prayer/) HB 40 mandates a “day of student prayer,” suggesting that the intent is to encourage students to pray. Rep. Regina Huff, one of the bill’s sponsors, reportedly confirmed that the bill encourages students to “participate in the Day of Prayer before the regular school day.” The bill’s text is somewhat different, encouraging citizens to pray for students, but the distinction makes little difference. It only shows that the bill’s sponsors can’t agree on how to disguise its religious purpose.
One thing is for sure: HB 40 will embolden public school teachers and administrators to encourage students to pray, which is unconstitutional and exposes schools to legal liability.
Please use our automated system to contact the members of the Kentucky Senate Education Committee and urge them to vote against HB 40. If you’re interested in learning more about this bill, we’ve provided details here.