The Freedom From Religion Foundation is sounding the alarm on the perceived negative effects of a proposed amendment to the Alabama Constitution to mandate the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer at the beginning of the day in public schools.
On Thursday, a proposed constitutional amendment requiring the Alabama State Department of Education to adopt policies requiring a daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer "consistent with Judeo-Christian values" at the beginning of every school day advanced in a House Committee.
House Bill 35 (HB35), sponsored by State Rep. Tracy Estes (R-Winfield), seeks to prevent state entities from interfering with student-led prayer events at schools and allows students to use school property to carry out prayers.
"Prayer in Alabama Schools is not a partisan issue but an issue that all Alabama Legislators can support," said sponsors of a Republican Executive Committee resolution urging the Legislature to pass a school prayer statute.