Institute on Religion and Democracy Press Release | May 5, 2014
Contact: Jeff Walton office: 202-682-4131, cell: 202-413-5639, e-mail: jwalton@TheIRD.org
“Some desire to enthrone a rigid secularism as the state religion while suppressing all other views. In contrast, ordered liberty allows free expression for all.”
-Mark Tooley, IRD President
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Supreme Court justices ruled today that legislative bodies such as city councils can begin their meetings with prayer.
The court ruled 5 to 4 that Christian prayers given before meetings of the town council of Greece, New York did not violate the constitutional prohibition against government establishment of religion.
IRD President Mark Tooley commented:
“We can be grateful that the U.S. Supreme Court in ‘Greece v. Galloway’ upheld freedom of speech and religion by affirming the right of a town council to hear unrestricted prayer by local clergy. Kudos to groups like the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and Becket Fund for their court briefs and advocacy.
“Sadly, the court ruling was narrowly 5-4. And more religious groups should have actively spoken to the issue. Some actually filed briefs against the town council’s allowing unrestricted prayers.
“Some desire to enthrone a rigid secularism as the state religion while suppressing all other views. In contrast, ordered liberty allows free expression for all. Religious freedom remains under attack, and all persons who cherish freedom of speech and religion should prepare for future battles.”
Comment by Marco Bell on May 5, 2014 at 6:52 pm
But don’t you know, if each meeting were opened with a prayer from a Muslim, or Jew, there would be as much complaining going on… but just from the other side.
And what is “Ordered Liberty?
Comment by Steve on May 6, 2014 at 10:58 am
You should read the opinion.
Even though most of the religious community in the area were christian, there was no requirement prayers were christian. The program allowed for all faiths, even atheists, to give invocations A Jewish leader and wiccan priestess were invited to offer a prayer\ invocation.
How can there be an “establishment clause” violation when all faiths and non-religious persons are allowed to participate?