Appeals court upholds Mo. prayer ballot measure

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - 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.