Perry wants constitutional amendment for prayer in schools

As president, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) says he would fight for a constitutional amendment to allow prayer in schools.

In an ad released last week, Perry declared that President Barack Obama was waging a "war on religion" because gays are allowed to serve openly in the military and children aren't allowed to pray in schools.

"It was the Supreme Court, back in 1962, that decided -- and it's been upheld since then -- that children couldn't pray in school," Fox News host Chris Wallace told Perry Sunday. "Barack Obama had nothing to do with that."

"I would support a constitutional amendment that allows children to pray in school anytime that they would like," Perry declared. "I happen to believe that ought be a local decision, and that's not the Supreme Court's business to be telling Americans when and how they should pray."

"On the issue of don't ask, don't tell: It was working, and for the commander in chief to use our military as a political tool while we're in combat in two different locations around the world -- at least two different locations around the world in Iraq and Afghanistan -- I just think it's really irresponsible. ... I think [the gay ban] is bad public policy and I would change it."

Wallace noted that the ban on prayer in schools had continued under both Republican and Democratic Presidents.

"I'm telling you what I believe, Chris," Perry replied. "Americans don't agree with that decision that was made in 1962, and if we have a constitutional amendment election across this country allowing our children to pray in school, I will suggest to you it will pass overwhelmingly. And I'll support that. I will go across this country, as I am promoting a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution, I will work on a balanced -- or I should say an amendment to allow our children to pray in school."

Watch this video from Fox's Fox News Sunday, broadcast Dec. 11, 2011.