Texas Governor Rick Perry (R)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Freedom from Religion Foundation has filed a federal lawsuit to stop the Texas governor's day of prayer and fasting.
The organization which is made up of atheists and agnostics argues that Gov. Rick Perry is violating the constitutional ban on the government establishing a religion.
Perry has invited the Obama administration, the nation's governors and Texas lawmakers to attend the prayer meeting in Houston on Aug. 6. The event is being sponsored by evangelical Christian groups and is explicitly a Christian event.
The foundation said Perry should not have organized the event as governor.
The suit was filed Wednesday at the federal courthouse in Houston. A spokesman for the event, called The Response, said he needed to consult an attorney before commenting. The governor's office had no immediate comment.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
