Appeals court upholds Mo. prayer ballot measure

A state appeals court has upheld the ballot summary for a proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution on public prayer.

The proposed amendment asserts the right in Missouri to:

• Pray in public places as long as doing so does not disturb the peace.
• It also says that students may express their religious beliefs and 
• Cannot be compelled to participate in assignments that violate those beliefs.

The summary was challenged in a lawsuit claiming it failed to mention the potential for students to refuse homework or that prisoners could lose some religious protections.

A panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals' Western District ruled Wednesday that the challenge was without merit. 

The proposed amendment will appear on Missouri's Aug. 7 statewide ballot.

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