he U.S. House of Representatives last evening passed a nonbinding resolution supporting the constitutionality of religious prayer before public school athletic events.

   Introduced by Texas Republican Henry Bonilla, the measure called upon the Supreme Court to uphold the controversial practice which was recently struck down in a decision by the 5th U.S. Court of Appeals. The resolution declares that "prayers and invocations at public school sporting events are constitutional under the First Amendment to the Constitution; and the Supreme Court, accordingly, should uphold the constitutionality of such practices."

   The brief debate over the issue was essentially a replay of last June 17, when congress voted to enact legislation permitting states to display the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms and other official government venues.

   Rep. Walter Jones, (R-N.C.) justified the prayer resolution, saying "America was built on Judeo-Christian values." Alabama Republican Robert Aderholt rose in support of the proposal saying it is "most ironic that while an increasing number of violent crimes have occurred in our nation's schools in recent years, our federal courts have seen fit to restrict the very expression of faith which can play a significant role in providing desperately needed moral guidance to our youth."

   Aderholt was a sponsor of the Juvenile Justice bill this past summer that included amendments in support of Ten Commandments display, and allowing faith-based groups to bid on contracts to administer social service programs.

   He added that "A strong religious message coupled with good sportsmanship instilled by adult role models can make a positive long-term influence on our nation's young people."

   Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) told the sparsely attended session, "We're not against students praying, athletes praying. That's not the issue. The issue is under what circumstances can state-supported institutions use their facilities to promote one particular prayer." Congressman Bobby Scott of Virginia agreed, reminding the Congress that the Supreme Court had already struck down government-sponsored prayer in the ENGEL v. VITALE case. He noted, "The First Amendment was added to the Constitution to stand as a guarantee that neither the power nor the prestige of the federal government would be used to control, support or influence the kinds of prayer that American people can say."

   One of the most vocal and belligerent supporters of public religiosity, Rep. James Traficant (D-Ohio) declared that he was fed-up with "First Amendment mumbo-jumbo," and argued that the Constitution "never intended to separate God and people." Traficant added that "A nation without God is a nation without order."

   Yesterday's congressional resolution is just latest development in an escalating war over prayer in the public square, and specifically at high school athletic events.

   Earlier this year, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that some religious activities were permissible at certain school events such as graduation ceremonies. Justices declared that orchestrated prayer, however, was not acceptable at athletic contests, since the activity lacked the "singularly serious nature" of a commencement. In May, a panel of judges from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that having students vote on who would deliver prayer or other "messages" at a high school graduation ceremony was unconstitutional, since the practice "coerces objecting student to participate in prayer."

   Since the 5th Circuit ban, a number of school boards throughout Texas have still encouraged forms of "student led" prayer at high school football games. Atheists and other secularists have protested the student-led prayer disruptions, but the practice has continued across the state.

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