In weighing in on a Texas controversy, the Foundation urged "zero tolerance for theocratic public officials," protesting Texas Gov. Rick Perry's "religious self-aggrandizement." The Foundation accused Perry of being part of a "cabal of self-serving politicians" who hosted a Christian prayer at a mandatory school assembly in Palestine Middle School on Oct. 18.
Rev. Roy Duncan was invited to lead a prayer by the Palestine superintendent at the behest of the governor's office and a state senator, according to an employee of the superintendent's office. Duncan prayed "in Jesus' name."
"What kind of public official would capitalize on a national tragedy to opportunistically trample on the precious principle of the separation of church and state?" the Foundation asked Perry in a letter of protest.
Perry told the Austin Statesman he thinks the school prayer issue should be decided by "majority rule," saying he would use school prayer as a campaign issue.
"Imagine if an imam had been invited to pray in the name of Allah, and a gymnasium full of children had prostrated themselves on the floor. What happened on Oct. 18 was no less outrageous," the Foundation wrote.
"I bet we get it worked out," Perry later said. "All of us who are running for governor are for it [school prayer]."