Billboard campaign takes aim at National Day of Prayer

Colorado Springs’ reputation as a stronghold of Christian conservatism has created a backlash in the form of reoccurring billboards sponsored by groups that support the separation of church and state.

The latest billboard campaign in the Springs is funded by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and is timed to run during Thursday’s National Day of Prayer. Erected Thursday, the three billboards, which read “God & Government, A Dangerous Mix: Keep State and Church Separate,” will be up through May 13.

In November 2008, Freedom From Religion funded a billboard on North Academy Boulevard that said, “Imagine No Religion.” In March, Citizens Project in Colorado Springs funded 12 billboards that asked for respect toward diversity and criticized Christian groups seeking a theocratic state.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has a special interest in the National Day of Prayer.

The Madison, Wis.-based organization successfully sued the federal government over it, with a federal judge ruling April 15 that the event is unconstitutional because the government’s endorsement of prayer violates the First Amendment.

“The government can’t formally encourage Americans to pray,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the group, which claims 14,500 U.S. atheists and agnostics as members. “This is a federal statute enacted by Congress with the purpose of uniting people in prayer.”

Gaylor said Colorado Springs was chosen for the campaign because of its high demographic of conservative Christians and its being the home base of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. She contends that the Task Force — led by Shirley Dobson, wife of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson — blurs the separation between church and state.

“The National Day of Prayer Task Force was working hand-in-glove with the government,” Gaylor said.

The National Day of Prayer was established in 1952 by an act of Congress. In the late 1980s, the Reagan administration designated the first Thursday of May as the celebration date. Soon after, the National Day of Prayer Task Force formed in Colorado Springs to promote the event in the U.S., but without government endorsement.

Michael Calhoun, Task Force director of strategic communications, said Tuesday that the organization has not hijacked the event, as some watchdog groups contend. The Task Force simply acts as an information repository on National Day of Prayer events that honor the Judeo-Christian tradition, he said.

“The National Day of Prayer is for all Americans to pray or meditate, depending on their faith, in their own way and if they choose,” Calhoun said.

The Wisconsin ruling is expected to be appealed, and until that process is complete, the National Day of Prayer will continue as usual. President Barack Obama recently issued a proclamation in support of the prayer day.

Calhoun said tens of thousands of prayer events are planned Thursday across the nation, and he was unconcerned about the local Freedom From Religion billboards.

“There are thousands of billboards across the country heralding the National Day of Prayer,” Calhoun said.

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To read more on the lawsuit involving the National Day of Prayer, and Freedom From Religion’s suit against Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, go to Barna’s blog, The Pulpit, at www.thepulpit.freedomblogging.com.

National Day of Prayer Events in Colorado Springs

• Vanguard Church, 5938 N. Academy Blvd., 7-8:30 p.m. Contact: 591-8800; www.vanguardchurch.org.

• Sunnyside Christian Church, 2025 N. Murray Blvd., 12-1 p.m. Contact: 597-8790, ask for Sarah

• Community Bible Study Chapel, 790 Stout Road, 12-1 p.m. Contact: 955-7777; www.communitybiblestudy.org.

• Vista Grande Baptist Church, 5680 Stetson Hills Blvd., 6-6:45 a.m.; 12-1 p.m.; Concert of Prayer 6:30-8 p.m. Contact: 598-2139

• Calvary Worship Center Santuary, 201 Castle Road, 12:15-12:45 p.m., Contact: www.cwccs.org

• Sunrise Church at Briargate sanctuary, 2655 Briargate Blvd., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Contact: 598-7013

• Covenant of Faith Church sponsoring event at Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2886 S. Circle Drive, 6-10 p.m. Contact: (888) 818-9990, www.mobilization2010.org.

• Vista Grande Church of God, 4870 Flintridge Drive, 7-8 a.m., 6:30-7:30 p.m. Contact: 598-5511

Source: National Day of Prayer Task Force