I was writing an article about National Day of Prayer rumors when an Associated Press article came out on a federal ruling.

So my ire at President Obama (stirred by the rumors) has softened, and I’m now hurling curse words at a federal judge.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb in Wisconsin ruled the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional, saying the government can’t call for religious action.

The ruling comes in answer to a lawsuit filed in 2008 by a Madison, Wis.-based group The Freedom from Religion Foundation, a group of atheists and agnostics. They argue the day violates the separation of church and state.

According to the Associated Press, President Barack Obama’s administration has countered that the statute simply acknowledges the role of religion in the United States. Obama issued a proclamation last year but did not hold public events with religious leaders as former President George W. Bush had done.

The AP reported that Crabb wrote in her ruling that government involvement in prayer is constitutional only as long as it does not call for religious action.

A presidential spokesperson said following the ruling the president still planned to issue this year’s proclamation for May 6, and Crabb said the event won’t be cancelled until all appeals are exhausted.

In her decision, she wrote, “It goes beyond mere ‘acknowledgment’ of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, 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.”

My answer. Ms. Crabb, I’m praying for you!

Now that part of this column, the ruling, is true. But I started writing it based on a rumor. And there’s nothing like a good rumor to get people stirred up.

I saw one on Facebook this week, and it got me pretty steamed.

“President Obama has cancelled this year’s National Day of Prayer…” several of my friends posted.

Cancelled the National Day of Prayer? How could he?

I don’t really agree with the president on many things. I hate his health care policy. I don’t like his politically correct stance on terrorism. And his dumbing down of NASA? Give me a break.

I’ve shaken my head in disgust plenty of times. But mostly, I’ve moved on.

But this? When I read the posts I decided for sure this man had gone too far!

Now despite my political views, I think President Obama is likely a good man, a good father and a good husband. And I have no doubt he’s one smart cookie.

But to mess with the very thing this country was founded on — faith, I really don’t think he’d do it. But that’s what the rumor mill was saying. And if it’s true, I thought, this time I’m not going to just shake my head.

But alas, it is just a rumor. In fact, whether he’d like to or not, I don’t think President Obama has the authority to cancel the National Day of Prayer.

It was a 1988 act of Congress that set the National Day of Prayer to occur on the first Thursday of every May. So unless the rules have changed — and I never can really be sure about that — then this May 6, in the United States of America, it will be National Day of Prayer.

In 1775, the first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln called for such a day. In 1952, Congress established National Day of Prayer as an annual event by a joint resolution, signed into law by President Truman.

And in 1988 the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, designating National Day of Prayer as the first Thursday in May.

Here a some facts about National Day of Prayer:

• The president of the United States has called for a National Day of Prayer every year since 1995.

• Every president since 1952 has signed at National Day of Prayer proclamation.

• 33 of the 44 U.S. presidents have signed proclamations for National Day of Prayer. Four of the presidents who didn’t sign a proclamation died while serving in office.

• In all, there have been 135 Presidential Proclamations for a National Day of Prayer (including one last year from President Obama).

• Last year, all 50 state governors and the governors of several U.S. territories signed similar proclamations.

Now back to the judge. I remember when a West coast judge tried to tell us “One nation under God” should come out of the Pledge of Allegiance. But we still say it. Every day.

So I don’t expect this judge’s ruling to mean much, either. In fact, it may incite people to pray louder.

And President Obama, this would be a great time for you to proclaim the date, sign the proclamation and bow your head in front of America.

God bless us all.

Sandy Cunningham is publisher of L’Observateur. She can be reached at sandy.cunningham@wickcommunications.com