Pittsburgh's National Day of Prayer events are going on as planned today, despite rumors that such services were canceled after a federal judge in Wisconsin ruled the government-sanctioned observances unconstitutional.

"The judge said this would not affect any events until all appeals were exhausted," said Ray Almgren, an organizer of the major local observance in Mellon Square, Downtown. It starts at 11:30 a.m.

"Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation on the Internet that the president had canceled the National Day of Prayer, when in fact he is a defendant in the case ... and has instructed his attorneys to appeal."

The Downtown observance is under new management and has moved because Market Square is closed for construction. The House of His Presence, an interdenominational prayer center in Uptown, has succeeded the Pittsburgh Prayer Network as the organizer.

The two-hour prayer service features many Christian leaders praying for many aspects of American life and leadership. Local leaders say they also plan to pray for Israel.

The National Day of Prayer was created by congressional resolution in 1952 and signed into law by President Harry Truman. It has no government funding, and organizing is left to private groups. But evangelical Protestants created the major organization associated with the observance.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, based in Madison, Wis., challenged the government establishing such an observance. On April 15, U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb agreed that it violated the separation of church and state.

"It goes beyond mere acknowledgement of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer," she wrote. "Recognizing the importance of prayer to many people does not mean the government may enact a statute in support of it, any more than the government may encourage citizens to fast during the month of Ramadan, attend a synagogue, purify themselves in a sweat lodge or practice rune magic."

Congress and recent presidents have issued Ramadan proclamations, but they describe rather than urge its religious observance, while sending greetings to Muslims.

Last week President Barack Obama issued his proclamation for the National Day of Prayer.

"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," the proclamation said.

The Center For Inquiry-Pittsburgh, an organization of atheists and other skeptics, believes such language is unconstitutional.

"We feel strongly about separation of church and state," said Mary Balint of Ross, an active member of the group. She has no objection to religious groups organizing a day of prayer without government endorsement. It troubles her when any legislator invokes God's name in the line of duty.

"We don't like it when they are always thanking God and saying God bless America. Even if there was a God, why would he pick America? Why do they have to say that?" she said.

Some Christian groups agree. The Baptist Joint Committee on Religious Liberty -- which no longer includes the Southern Baptist Convention -- declared that "A day of prayer is more appropriately called for by our religious leaders -- not civil magistrates, Congress or even the president."

But Rabbi Alvin Berkun, rabbi emeritus of Tree of Life Congregation in Squirrel Hill and immediate past president of the Rabbinical Assembly, the international organization of Conservative rabbis, believes there is room for some government support for religious practice.

"I have no problem with a National Day of Prayer, I have no issue with military chaplains or with an opening prayer for Congress. I do have a problem with a lack of sensitivity to the needs and beliefs of everybody," said Rabbi Berkun, who was in Atlanta for an interfaith meeting on the role of military chaplains.

"I'm used to this kind of thing. The issue is how not to offend minority religions, and Pittsburgh has to address that. It's a delicate dance that has to be worked out. It usually means a little sacrifice on everybody's part."

The National Day of Prayer Task Force calls itself "Judeo-Christian" and says that those of other faiths can organize their own National Day of Prayer observances. According to its policy statement, "This diversity is what Congress intended when it designated the Day of Prayer, not that every faith and creed would be homogenized, but that all who sought to pray for this nation would be encouraged to do so in any way deemed appropriate."

Mr. Almgren believes the court decision has sparked more interest in the National Day of Prayer this year, but he wants to make sure that interest is constructive rather than divisive. When organizers received a call from a local representative of the tea party, Mr. Almgren said they were welcome to come as long they understood that it's a prayer service, not a political rally.

"We will be praying for our president and for the healing of our nation," he said.

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