MN Governor Proclaims 'Rolling Stones Day' But Ends 'National Day of Prayer' Tradition

MN Governor Proclaims 'Rolling Stones Day' But Ends 'National Day of Prayer' Tradition

06 May, 1999

By Minnesota Family Council
CNS Information Services

News Release

MINNEAPOLIS - Governor Jesse Ventura was criticized Wednesday by Tom Prichard, president of the Minnesota Family Council (MFC), for halting a Minnesota governor's tradition of issuing a prayer proclamation in conjunction with the annual National Day of Prayer on May 6th.

Deviating from the precedence of past years, the governor refused to issue a proclamation for a day of prayer and instead issued a 'certificate of recognition'. A statement from the governor's communication office said the governor "declined to issue a proclamation based on a policy that prayer and religion are personal and not state issues."

"Basically, Governor Ventura is misinformed on the important role prayer and religion have played in our state and nation's history," said Prichard. "Our Minnesota Constitution Preamble states, 'We, the people of the state of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings and secure the same to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.'"

The prayer proclamation tradition dates back to February 19, 1795 when President Washington issued a proclamation for a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. The purpose of a prayer proclamation was stated by Abraham Lincoln when he said in his 1861 prayer proclamation, "[I]t is fit and becoming in all people, at all times, to acknowledge and revere the Supreme Government of God." Governor Ventura's predecessor Arne Carlson regularly issued the annual prayer proclamation.

"I'm perplexed to think the governor would refuse to issue a prayer proclamation, something President Clinton and many other governors have proclaimed this year, but would issue a proclamation for the Rolling Stones on February 15th," added Prichard.

"In a time of school shootings and international turmoil, we should be encouraging prayer all the more," concluded Prichard. "I would think the governor at the very least give equal recognition to a day of prayer as he gave to Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones."

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