The US Supreme Court has warned judges against acting as "censors of religious speech", ruling that the custom of holding Christian prayers at the start of public meetings is not in breach of the Constitution.
The ruling came after an atheist and Jewish member of the public living in Greece, New York brought a suit claiming that the prayers, said by a “chaplain of the month” who was almost always Christian, were in breach of the First Amendment.
Ceremonial
However, the US Supreme Court ruled that the prayers were unlikely to make members of other faiths feel unwelcome and were merely ceremonial.
“Ceremonial prayer is but a recognition that, since this nation was founded and until the present day, many Americans deem that their own existence must be understood by precepts far beyond that authority of government to alter or define,” explained Justice Anthony M. Kennedy.
Religious freedom
He added: “Those who feel excluded or disrespected by such religious invocations could simply ignore them. Adults often encounter speech they find disagreeable.
"Throughout American history, ‘ceremonial prayer’ has been a regular part of public gatherings. Judges may not act as ‘censors of religious speech’ by telling government officials that they've crossed the line by permitting Christian messages.”
Members of all faiths and atheists were welcome to give the opening prayer, according to town officials.
Alliance Defending Freedom, which defended the town, said the ruling had "affirmed again that Americans are free to pray. Speech censors should have no power to silence volunteers who pray for their communities just as the founders did."
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