Istook launches another `pledge and prayer' crusade. (In The Capital).

Hoping to capitalize on a recent unpopular court ruling dealing with recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools, U.S. Rep. Ernest J. Istook (R-Okla.) is preparing to reintroduce his school prayer amendment.

Istook's proposal, outlined in a March 3 letter to his House colleagues, would open public schools to prayer and other worship activities and would allow display of sectarian symbols in public buildings. An earlier version of the amendment was rejected by the House in 1998.

Americans United charged that Istook is reintroducing the measure now to capitalize on Religious Right-led hysteria over the recent ruling by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals striking down public school recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance because of its religious content. The amendment's preamble states that it is designed to "include protection of the Pledge of Allegiance, the display of the Ten Commandments and school prayer."

The three-sentence "Pledge and Prayer" Amendment also aims to get recognition of God in the Constitution. Its reads, "To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience: The people retain the right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage, and traditions on public property, including schools. The United States and the States shall not establish any official religion nor require any person to join in prayer or religious activity." (At Church & State press time, the Istook measure had not yet been introduced in the House and assigned a bill number.)

Remarked Americans United Executive Director Barry W. Lynn, "Istook's proposed amendment strikes at the very heart of the principle of church-state separation. Istook wants to put the First Amendment through a shredder and see what comes out. All defenders of the Constitution will vigorously fight this proposal."