Washington (CNN) -- The 59th annual National Day of Prayer was held Thursday against a backdrop of controversy and growing doubts about the future of the event, which a federal judge recently declared unconstitutional.

President Truman signed a bill establishing an official National Day of Prayer in 1952, but U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb in Wisconsin ruled April 15 that the law violates the ban on government-backed religion.

The Justice Department is appealing the case on behalf of the White House. An injunction against the National Day of Prayer will not take effect until all government appeals have been exhausted.

In ruling that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional, Crabb wrote its "sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function. ... In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience."

I call upon the citizens of our nation to pray, or otherwise give thanks, in accordance with their own faiths and consciences, for our many freedoms and blessings, and I invite all people of faith to join me in asking for God's continued guidance, grace, and protection as we meet the challenges before us.

Again, Freedom of Religion is not Freedom from Religion, as the second is an abridgement of the first. Noting that, there becomes an obvious reason that "of" was the word chosen to use instead of "from".

This. A million times this. gah

So... Question for you folks. If the judge had struck it down (which she did) but also said that the gatherings could not go forward (she said they could go forward until after all the appeals), would you have supported Obama for moving forward?

I would not, I don't think. Even though I agree it's a bad ruling, checks and balances > all.