Rep. Frank Becker, New York Republican, testifying on his proposed amendment to permit prayers in public schools, told the House Judiciary Committee today that the intent of his amendment was for a return to “non-denominational” prayers.
He made the statement under committee questioning. One question was who, under his proposed amendment, would be responsible for determining the type of prayer. He replied: “My intent is to permit the offering of a prayer in the public schools. The handling of the matter” of the wording “can be left to local authorities. ” The effect of the Becker amendment would be to void the 1963 Supreme Court decision banning prayers in public schools as unconstitutional.
Questioning of Rep. Becker then turned to what he meant by “non-denominational. ” He was asked, as an example, whether he could accept the use of the word “Allah” as equally suitable with the word “God. ” He replied that he felt that a discussion of the various terms used by different religions was irrelevant. Rep. Jacob Gilbert, New York Democrat, cited that reply as dramatizing the problems involved in “getting a non-denominational prayer. “
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