The National Day of Prayer, marked by various ceremonies this past Thursday, was established by the federal government in 1952. This was a time of undeniable religious fervor in the United States, as evidenced by the fact that only two years later, in 1954, the government tacked the words “under God” into our Pledge of Allegiance.

Times have changed.

In April, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional,  stating that it is a call to religious action issued by the government and therefore violates the constitutional separation of church and state. Crabb wrote in her decision that the day is “an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function in this context. In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience.”

Though her ruling is on hold pending several appeals, it should be seen as a victory for anyone who values religious freedom.

That freedom, which is at the very core of our nation’s identity, is best protected by keeping a thick wall between church and state. Our founders knew that government must keeps its nose out of such a private affair as one’s relationship with God, or lack thereof. When government gets involved, the majority religion of the day ends up with an inappropriate amount of control and influence.

Such is the case with The National Day of Prayer. The event is organized by a private group led by evangelical Christians, the National Day of Prayer Task Force, which is housed in the Focus on the Family headquarters in Colorado Springs. For decades their event did not acknowledge non-Christians.

This year, local organizer Clement Fleurent said that his Biddeford prayer event was intended only for those of the Judeo-Christian faiths and he invited Muslims to host their own exclusive event.

That’s not what most people think of when they hear about The National Day of Prayer, but that is the reality. The evangelical Christians are ascendant now and endorsing their day of prayer could be seen as endorsing their religion as the religion of the state.

Biddeford Mayor Joanne Twomey should have known better than to issue a proclamation on the city’s behalf in support of the National Day of Prayer, on Tuesday, May 4. Though Twomey somewhat redeemed herself by declining to attend any related events in her capacity as mayor, she should not have made the proclamation in the first place.

Twomey said she was unaware that the Day of Prayer had been ruled unconstitutional, but that ruling was not in effect for this year’s event due to the appeals process.

Despite widespread respect for communities of faith, no government entity should ever put itself in a position where it is officially endorsing a religious event. It is deeply disappointing that President Barack Obama has chosen to appeal Crabb’s ruling and that so many legislators are rallying around a governmental endorsement of prayer.

The government has no place in religious affairs and nations that cross that line generally end up in hot water (see: Middle East).

It’s not 1952 anymore. The power of religious institutions, which once regulated female reproduction, societal norms and even diet, has waned among most of the population, even among those who consider themselves religious. It’s time to keep those institutions in their place ”“ and out of politics.

All government leaders in America should embrace the constitution and allow people to celebrate their faiths in private or, if in public, without involvement from any government entity.