
Supreme Court Allows Prayer At Government Meetings, by Diana Chandler, Christian Examiner
"The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it is constitutional for a small town in upstate New York to continue its practice of opening their government meetings with prayer.
"In a 5-4 opinion, the high court overturned Monday (May 5) a federal appeals court, which ruled that the prayer policy of the Greece, N.Y., Town Board violated the First Amendment's ban on government establishment of religion. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City had reversed a federal judge by deciding Greece's prayer practice "had the effect of affiliating the town with Christianity."
"The narrow decision was the latest in a long line of important Supreme Court opinions providing guidance on the relationship between church and state. Advocates for the freedom of religious expression in public meetings applauded the ruling.
“'Today’s Supreme Court decision is a great victory for religious liberty,” said Eric Rassbach, deputy general counsel of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty."