Show Solons Sponsor Prayer Change A resolution proposing a Amendment to aI I permit voluntary participation in prayer in all public build Ings Including schools Is scheduled to be considered by bythe bythe the Senate next week Sen Wallace F Bennett R R- R utah Is a sponsor cosponsor of the measure with Everett M Dirksen Ill It-Ill The country is deeply Inter ested In our amendment A recent Gallup foil Poil showed 80 per cent of those interviewed In favor of voluntary school pray prayer er Sen Bennett explained We have added all public buildings to our original prayer In schools idea We feel fecI facilities supported by public funds should be allowed to hold nondenominational prayers In part the Article would read Nothing contained In Inthis inthis this Constitution shall a bridge abridge the right of persons assembled In any public build build- building ing which is supported in whole or In part through the expend iture of public funds to par in nondenominational prayer Sen Bennett said we have lost in our efforts on this issue in the past Senator Dirksen and I will not give up In 1966 1906 a similar Amendment failed by nine votes of securing ing the necessary two thirds re re- re required This was close enough to justify In bringing It u up for a vote vole again The amendment Is simple voluntary and permissive It gives no legal authority to any official body to dictate the form or content of a prayer but places the responsibility upon local school authorities controlling contro ing public buildings including Ing schools In supporting this resolution it Is not my Intention to reo re- repeal peal the First Amendment to the Constitution It is rather my Intention to clarify the amendment and to 10 insure for all tile the right of freedom of conscience to pray or not notto to 10 pray to worship or 01 not to worship The resolution must be led as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislature or three fourths of the states to tobe tobe be operative |