Tony Perkins On Prayer Rally Lawsuit

"The Freedom From Religion Foundation takes the opportunity to bash our friends at the American Family Association as 'rabid' for their stance on homosexuality, even going so far as to claim that AFA violates the so-called 'protected class' of gays and lesbians. There is no such thing as a protected class of homosexuals. The Obama administration may have created that perception with its agenda, but the concept isn't rooted in law. Regardless, the White House is creating an environment of hostility in America, where you can't even speak up about traditional morality, Christianity or even prayer without fear of being sued or harassed. If that's 'tolerance,' I'd hate to see how they define 'prejudice.'" - Family Research Council head Tony Perkins, via press release.

TEXAS: Atheist Group Sues Gov. Rick Perry Over Christianist Prayer Rally

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has filed suit against Texas Gov. Rick Perry for his planned role in the upcoming prayer rally being staged by the American Family Association.

The complaint alleges Perry violated the First Amendment's establishment clause by organizing, promoting and participating in the event. "The answers for America's problems won't be found on our knees or in heaven, but by using our brains, our reason and in compassionate action," said Dan Barker, a co-director of the foundation. "Gov. Perry's distasteful use of his civil office to plan and dictate a religious course of action to 'all citizens' is deeply offensive to many citizens, as well as to our secular form of government." The group, which unsuccessfully sued to stop a national day of prayer earlier this year, filed the case on behalf of 700 members in Texas and called on the court to stop Perry from participating in the meeting or using his office to promote or recognize it.

Backers of the event are furious: "This is tantamount to a lawsuit declaring Governor Perry is unable to attend church on Sundays. It's the most outrageous thing I've ever seen." The FFRF fires back that that AFA "promotes a rabid evangelical Christian agenda that is hostile to nonbelievers, non-Christians and other protected groups, such as gays and lesbians."

PERRY BACKER: Congress Must Change DC's Name To "District Of Christ"

Congress "must and will" change the name of Washington DC to "District of Christ" in order to wrestle the city away from demonic influences.

Statue Of Liberty = Demonic Idol

From one of TX Gov. Rick Perry's BFFs.

TX Gov. Rick, Perry & Friends

Courtesty of Right Wing Watch, here's a compilation clip of all the rightwing nuts associated with TX Gov. Rick Perry's coming "Christians only" prayer rally.

PERRY BACKER: Japan Is Cursed Because The Emperor Had Sex With A Demon

Maddow On Rick Perry's Prayer Rally

AFA Defends Texas Prayer Rally

The American Family Association, the main backer of the Christianist prayer rally so heavily promoted by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, say the event will not violate the separation of church and state.

"The Response is an open event. Anyone who wants to pray to Jesus for a nation in crisis is welcome to attend. Next, The Response is a prayer event, not a political event," Wildmon says. "No political candidates will be speaking. Finally our critics say The Response violates the separation of church and state. The event will be held at a public stadium which has no connection to a religious body."

Right Wing Watch asks: "So does that mean that Gov. Perry, the man who is responsible for the entire event and is serving as its public face, will be not be speaking at the event? Or does it mean that he will speak because he is not going to be a political candidate running for office?"

Christians Only At TX Prayer Rally

And here's why, according to an event organizer:

This is an explicitly Christian event because we are going to be praying to the one true God through His son, Jesus Christ. It would be idolatry of the worst sort for Christians to gather and invite false gods like Allah and Buddha and their false prophets to be with us at that time. Because we have religious liberty in this country, they are free to have events and pray to Buddha and Allah on their own. But this is time of prayer to the One True God through His son, Jesus Christ, who is The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

I'm still trying to figure out how a state-sanctioned, explicitly exclusive religious event is being allowed to take place. Where are the lawsuits?

EDIT: It was pointed out to me that the above-quoted person is one of the prayer rally's organizers and that he was not speaking as Texas Gov. Rick Perry's spokesman, even though Perry is the event's headliner. Therefore I've changed the opening line of this post.

TX Gov. Rick Perry's Call To Prayer

Texas Gov. Rick Perry invites you to the official state-sanctioned Christian (only) prayer rally where you will be asked to "pray and fast like Jesus did."