The Freedom From Religion Foundation is strongly criticizing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for issuing yet another hollow “Day of Prayer” proclamation and for making insensitive remarks following the devastating flooding that claimed dozens of lives in Central Texas.
In a formal letter sent to Abbott today, FFRF criticizes the governor for using a natural disaster to promote religion instead of taking meaningful, science-based steps to address future crises. “Your prayer proclamation does nothing to help those currently suffering or prevent similar devastation in the future,” the letter states. “As governor, you have many tools to actually help prepare for weather-related disasters, and you should use these tools rather than using your office and state resources to promote your personal religious beliefs.”
Over 100 people, including 27 children, most of them in Kerr County, have died in the flooding. Many were attending a Christian girls’ camp along the Guadalupe River when the floodwaters surged.
Instead of focusing on tangible actions or solutions, Abbott used his press conference to praise his own response, thank President Trump and encourage prayer: “Prayer matters.” Prayers “could have been the reason why water stopped rising,” he insisted. ”Those prayers are answered in so many ways. … All we know is that prayer does work. Your prayers have made a difference. … We thank God almighty. God has blessed Texas and will continue to bless our great state.”
Abbott also issued an official proclamation declaring Sunday, July 6, as a statewide “Day of Prayer,” asking Texans “to turn to God for comfort, healing, and strength.” It states, “I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday—for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines.” The proclamation, addressed to “Texans of all faiths and religious traditions and backgrounds,” pointedly ignores the 26 percent of state residents who identify as nonreligious — atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular.”
Responds Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president: “Abbott’s statements are part of the ‘God always gets the credit, never the blame’ phenomenon.” She adds, “If God was watching out, why did he allow the Guadalupe River to rise 22 feet over a couple of hours in the first place? Why did this all-powerful, all-seeing deity allow 27 campers and counselors at a Christian camp to be tragically swept away? Abbott can’t have it both ways.”
FFRF’s letter reminds Abbott of his constitutional obligations, stating: “You have taken an oath to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution, an entirely godless and secular document, and are charged with great responsibility over citizens, including those who may not share your personal religious viewpoints.” It concludes: “Leaving religion as a private matter for private citizens is the wisest public policy. Observing a strict separation of church and state offends no one and honors the First Amendment.”
FFRF is also deeply concerned that the Trump administration is echoing this misplaced reliance on prayer. On July 6, the official White House X account posted: “The White House Faith Office asks you to join us in prayer for the precious lives lost in the Texas floods. Amidst this tragedy, our nation must come together to pray for the victims, their families, and the first responders conducting rescue missions to find those still missing. May God wrap his loving arms around all those in Texas.” The message was accompanied by a Bible verse: Psalm 34:18, ‘The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.’
FFRF points out that while Americans are free to pray if they choose, it is not the role of the government — including the White House — to issue religious calls to action on behalf of the entire nation. In times of crisis, Americans deserve policy, preparedness, and science — not scripture.
Gaylor adds that the focus on prayer distracts from real questions about public safety and preparedness — such as whether vacancies at the National Weather Service (NWS) contributed to the scale of the disaster. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has called for an investigation by the Commerce Department’s inspector general.
As The New York Times reports, key positions at local offices of the National Weather Service were unfilled: “The National Weather Service’s San Angelo office, which is responsible for some of the areas hit hardest by Friday’s flooding, was missing a senior hydrologist, staff forecaster and meteorologist in charge, according to Tom Fahy, the legislative director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization, the union that represents Weather Service workers,” according to the Times.
The San Antonio office also had significant vacancies, including individuals who work with local emergency managers on flood planning, warnings and evacuation. The warning coordination meteorologist took the early retirement package used by the Trump administration to reduce the number of federal employees, the Times reports. At both offices, the vacancy rate doubled after Trump took office.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation points to the role of white evangelical Christians, 80 percent of whom voted for Trump, in enabling a political climate that continues to undermine climate science and emergency preparedness. Last week, Trump called to zero out all climate research at NOAA. Although white evangelical Christians are also the most skeptical of human-made climate change, a third accept the science.
“Without crucial research, science, climate-change mitigation or even proper alert systems, these weather-related tragedies will continue and multiply, kill more Americans and wreak destruction,” Gaylor warned.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with over 42,000 members nationwide, including 1,800 members and a local chapter in Texas. FFRF’s purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between church and state, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
