New Guidance Protecting the Right to Prayer in Public Schools

President Donald Trump announced that the Department of Education will issue new guidance protecting the right to prayer in public schools.
 
“To have a great nation you have to have religion,” Trump said at the second meeting of the Religious Liberty Commission at the Museum of the Bible last Monday morning.  Trump honored students whose religious liberties had reportedly been violated at public school.
 
 A young boy named Shane spoke about being required to read a book about transgender ideology at school.  His parents complained, and the boy was bullied at school.  “I believe kids like me should be able to live our faith at school without being forced to go against what we believe,” said Shane.  “I hope no other family has to go through what mine did.”
 
Trump also honored a high schooler named Hannah who was punished for praying at school for an injured classmate.
 
Trump also slammed Sen. Tim Kaine (VA-D) for his comments last week that rights [come] from government, rather than God.  “The ineffectual senator from Virginia, man named Tim Kaine, stated that the notion our rights come from our creator is, quote, ‘extremely troubling to him,’” Trump said.  “But as everyone in this room understands, it is tyrants who are denying our rights and the rights that come from God, and it’s this Declaration of Independence that proclaims we’re endowed by our Creator with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” the president added.  “The senator from Virginia should be ashamed of himself.”
 

Trump invited Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner to take the stage. He announced the Administration’s new “America Prays” initiative, which calls on Americans to dedicate time every week to pray for the country.  “What if believers all across this great nation got together with 10 people, friends, family members, colleagues, work associates, 10 people each week to pray for our country and for our fellow citizens?” Turner said.  Turner invited all Americans to pray for the renewal of the country.  “Think about the miracles that would take place over the next year; think about the transformation that you and I could witness in communities all across the land,” he continued.  “Sons returning to their fathers, daughters returning to their mothers, families coming back together, health being restored, financial needs being met, mountains being moved.  Think about it, and for millions of us every week, got together and prayed for this great country.”

 
Let’s take up the call and see God answer in response to our prayers.
 
Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel