Governor weighs in on Cullman Co. prayer caravan

Alabama's governor weighed in on the prayer caravan set for this Saturday in Cullman County.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation claimed the event would violate the separation between church and state. During an event in Decatur Thursday, Governor Robert Bentley said he supports the Cullman County Schools Superintendent, and supports the prayer caravan.

Superintendent Billy Coleman said he will be participating in the event as a private citizen, not as a school official. He added it is not a school function. But people with the Freedom From Religion Foundation said because the prayer caravan group will go to each school in the system and pray, it is a violation of the Constitution. They also pointed to the fact the event had been announced on the school system's website. Governor Bentley said they are misinterpreting the First Amendment.

"I personally believe that one of the problems we have in this country is taking God out of, not only our lives, but out of government. But, we can't force that on someone. That's what the Constitution says. We cannot force that on people. But, people have the right to express their opinions on their beliefs. And I do it all the time. Nobody's put me in jail yet," Bentley said.

Freedom From Religion Foundation officials said they will have people observing the prayer caravan.

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