There are other references to praying continuously (1Thessalonians 5:17) etc. Certainly, Jesus would encourage prayer in church, which is a public display (Matthew 21:13..."My house will be called a house of prayer").
So, I don't buy what Ebert is peddling. You need to see through it. He is not referencing The Bible. He is advancing his own political leanings. Period.
Your post #10 wasn't addressed my way, but my take on the passages you referenced was that it wasn't the public display of prayer that was at fault but it was the hypocritical heart involved. The Pharisees aparently liked to be seen making their public displays of 'reverence'. It was the 'pretend piety' that was the problem. Obviously one praying in in one's closet doesn't have the temptation of trying to impress one another.
Nonetheless, read the Psalms - particularly Psalms 145 through 150 - clearly we are to make a joyful noise to the Lord.
And, lest we still feel to 'shy' about giving reverence to our Lord - given the scorn we will recieve from society - let's recall the Lord's words from Mark 8:38
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
As a nation America has a choice whether to remain cowed by the atheistic influences - that put worhip of the Trice Holy God on the same footing as worshiping a tree, the animal kingdom, the moon, or whatever pagan substitute exists out there - or to remember the promise in II Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
There's nothing wrong with praying in the closet - but lets not be shy either.
And as a secular aside - as pointed out by previous posters, there is nothing in the Constitution about a 'Seperation of Church and State'. There is to be no Federal Religion established (like the Church of England) -- although I'd bet the Founders of this Country never dreamed that 'Christianity' would be an issue. They probabably were more concerned about a specific denomination getting pre-eminence.
This 'Seperation of Church and State' canard is used to beat down any God honoring activity in our country.