Supreme Court Allows Prayers at Town Meetings [View all]

[progree]

Last edited Tue May 6, 2014, 11:38 PM - Edit history (2)

This is in Late Breaking News. The Town of Greece v. Galloway Case. 5-4 decision says town councils can have Christian prayers.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014796414

Lots of people in that thread think there is no coercion because you aren't being FORCED to participate. Heck if you are a citizen appearing before a town council because you are asking for a variance on zoning or a building permit, you would feel quite a bit of pressure to play along and not to walk out of the room during (or just before) the prayer ritual. You would reasonably be concerned that such an irreligious action might affect how the town council and majority of attendees feel about you and your zoning matter, especially if it's in a Bible Belt locality.

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Kagan's dissent used excerpts from previous Town of Greece prayers to argue against Kennedy's assertion that the opening prayers were similar to other "ceremonial" civic references to religion, like the "Under God" mention in the Pledge of Allegiance: "prayers evoking “the saving sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross,” “the plan of redemption that is fulfilled in Jesus Christ,” “the life and death, resurrection and ascension of the Savior Jesus Christ,” the workings of the Holy Spirit, the events of Pentecost, and the belief that God “has raised up the Lord Jesus” and “will raise us, in our turn, and put us by His side”
More: http://news.yahoo.com/supreme-court-expands-local-power-hold-prayer-government-150036691.html
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My understanding is that all of the above is just fine with the majority of the Supreme Court --that to try to keep out explicitely Christian language and restrict prayers to a generic God would put the government in the role of a censor, according to what I heard was part of the majority's reasoning on NPR. And there is no formula or requirement in the ruling that some prayers be given by those of non-Christian faiths or non-faiths

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From Americans United for the Separation of Church and State:

"... Today, in a disappointing 5-4 decision, the high court ruled that opening prayers at town council meetings do not violate the Constitution, even if they routinely promote Christianity. The court said that the content of the prayers is not significant as long as they do not denigrate non-Christians or proselytize. ...

... Americans United will make sure {{good luck with that -Progree}} that Religious Right does not hijack this ruling to promote prayer at school board meetings, civic ceremonies, public schools, municipal awards or any government sponsored event. "

The phrases in Kagan's dissent (drawn from actual Town of Greece City Council prayers) isn't proselytization? Anyway expect to be subjected to more blatantly sectarian invocations in more and more places.