1/10/04 
National
Clergy Council President Rev. Rob Schenck confronted Michael Newdow last year
during a news conference at the National Press Club. Faith and Action
president Rev. Rob Schenck (pronounced SHANK), announced today a major Internet
petition drive to keep prayer in Inauguration Day ceremonies on January 20. Atheist
activist Michael Newdow, famous for his challenge of the “under God”
in the Pledge of Allegiance and with whom Schenck has debated face-to-face, has
filed suit in federal court to prohibit the traditonal prayers from being offered.
Newdow calls the custom an “overt act of Christian worship.” Schenck's
organization has teamed up with Grassfire.net to communicate with
millions of Internet users between now and Inauguration Day. Petitions will be
delivered weekly to the federal judge hearing the case, the Inaugural Committee
responsible for all official ceremonies and to the White House. During President
Bush's first Inauguration the Reverends Franklin Graham and Kirby John Caldwell
raised a firestorm of controversy when each prayed prayers offered in Jesus' name. Rev.
Rob Schenck can be reached for further comment at 202-546-8329 or 703-447-7686.
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