WASHINGTON -- With two sentences, President Reagan handed Congress a firestorm of controversy -- whether to return prayer to public schools.
He sent to Capitol Hill Monday a proposed constitutional amendment that reads:
'Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to prohibit individual or group prayer in public schools or other public institutions. No person shall be required by the United States or by any State to participate in prayer.'
A big battle is certain as many in Congress -- along with a number of educators, church groups and civil libertarians -- have already voiced opposition.
In a dramatic May 6 announcement at White House ceremonies that marked National Prayer Day, Reagan unveiled his intention to propose such a amendment.
In an accompanying letter to Congress Monday, Reagan wrote, 'The founders of our nation and the framers of the First Amendment did not intend to forbid public prayer.'
Couching his arguments in the writings of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Alexis de Tocqueville, Reagan said the amendment would 'restore the simple freedom of our citizens to offer prayer in our public schools and institutions.'
He added that would not force anyone to participate in prayer against their will.
'Just as Benjamin Franklin believed it was beneficial for the Constitutional Convention to begin each day's work with a prayer, I believe that it would be beneficial for our children to have an opportunity to begin each school day in the same manner,' the president wrote.
'Since the law has been construed to prohibit this, I believe that the law should be changed. It is time for the people, through their Congress and the state legislatures, to act, using the means afforded them by the Constitution.'
The White House proposal is in the form of a joint resolution for Congress. To become part of the Constitution, it would require a vote of two-thirds of both the House and Senate, and ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures within a seven-year span before it could become law.
The Constitution became effective on the first Wednesday in March, 1789. The last time it was amendment was on July 1, 1971, when the 26th Amendment guaranteed 18 year olds the right to vote.
There was quick reaction earlier this month when Reagan first announced his intention to submit the proposal.
Willard McGuire, president of the National Education Ass:wV t9rP:to religion.' And Mary Cooper of the National Council of Church complained 'prescribed prayer demeans religion.'
The Rev. Jerry Falwell, head of the Moral Majority, and Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., were among those who hailed Reagan's intentions.
Falwell called it 'a bright day in America' and Helms said restoring prayer is a key to reversing what he called years of declining discipline and morality.
