My friend, Paul Horwitz (Alabama), has an op-ed in today’s New York Times on “The Response,” an all-day prayer event in Texas promoted by Governor Rick Perry ostensibly to address various current social and political crises. Paul notes that the suit filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation seeking to enjoin Governor Perry from promoting the event was dismissed, and (at least in the op-ed) he agrees with the dismissal. The suit was dismissed for lack of standing. But Paul is more uncertain-sounding on the merits here.
On that front, I thought I’d raise one little thought stimulated by Paul’s excellent piece: I believe that our present Establishment Clause jurisprudence stifles (suffocates?) the kind of social engagement that Paul advocates.