FFRF Sues Texas Governor Over Planned Prayer Rally

The Freedom from Religion Foundation announced yesterday that it and 5 of its Houston, Texas members have filed a federal lawsuit seeking:

a declaration that Texas Governor Rick Perry’s initiation, organization, promotion and participation as governor in a prayer rally at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, scheduled for August 6, 2011, in collaboration with the American Family Association, violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

 The complaint (full text) in Staley v. Perry, (SD TX, filed 7/13/2011), says that the plans for the prayer rally were preceded by an official proclamation from the governor calling on Texans to participate in a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Our Nation. In addition to a declaratory judgment, the complaint asks the court to order the governor to withdraw his permission for the American Family Association to use his written and videotaped endorsements of the rally on its website, and to enjoin his future promotion of prayer rallies or designating days of prayer in the future. (See prior related posting.)