HOUSTON (AP) _ A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit that sought to stop Texas Gov. Rick Perry from promoting or participating in an Aug. 6 day of prayer and fasting.
Judge Gray Miller ruled that the atheist and agnostic group that filed the suit, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, did not have standing to sue.
The group had argued that Perry’s involvement in the Houston event, called The Response, would violate the Constitution.
Gov. Perry defended the event, comparing it to presidential support for the National Day of Prayer. Perry said his prayer was that the courts would find that a governor still has First Amendment rights.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)