Joe Smith: House Approves the Act of Prayer in Public Places

This week, the House passed House Joint Resolution 62, sponsored by Representative Mike McGhee, R – Odessa, which protects the rights of Missouri citizens to pray in public.

Upon voter approval, this proposed constitutional amendment guarantees a citizen's First Amendment right to pray and worship in all public areas including schools as long as the activities are voluntary and subject to the same rules and regulations that apply to all other types of speech. A citizen's right to choose any religion or no religion at all is reaffirmed by prohibiting the establishment of an official state religion and the state from coercing any person to participate in any prayer or other religious activity.

HJR62 also says that public schools receiving state funds are required to display the text of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States in a conspicuous and legible manner for students and staff to see.

In addition, the resolution reaffirms the right of employees and elected officials of the State of Missouri to pray on government premises and public property. Before session convenes each day, we have a prayer in the House Chamber and HJR62 protects that right by allowing the General Assembly and other political subdivisions to have ministers and clergymen offer prayers or invocations at meetings or sessions of the General Assembly or other governing bodies.