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Posted on 11/07/2013 5:56:58 AM PST by marshmallow
Washington D.C., Nov 7, 2013 / 04:11 am (CNA/EWTN News).- A case before the U.S. Supreme Court is considering the ability of a town in New York to open meetings with prayer, and could have broader implications for religious identity in government settings.
“Community members should have the freedom to pray without being censored,” said David Cortman, senior counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom, which is defending the town of Greece, N.Y.
“Opening meetings with prayer is a cherished freedom that the authors of the Constitution practiced,” he explained in a press release. “Americans shouldn’t be forced to forfeit this freedom just to appease someone who claims to be offended by hearing a prayer.”
Oral arguments in Town of Greece v. Galloway were heard by the Supreme Court on Nov. 6. The case was brought by Americans United for Separation of Church and State on behalf of Susan Galloway and Linda Stephens, who claimed that the town of Greece, N.Y., violated the constitution in its practice of opening town meetings with prayer.
The 1983 Supreme Court decision in Marsh v. Chambers found that state-funded prayers in front of legislative bodies could be permitted because the “unique history” of the United States has always included a space for prayer in the government without posing any threat to the separation of Church and State.
In addition, the town’s defenders noted, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives both have chaplains, and the early American leaders referenced God and prayed publicly.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicnewsagency.com ...
The Constitution does not say....Freedom of Religion unless it offends someone. The idea that hearing a CHRISTIAN prayer is offensive is an absurdity. Remember, they’re being Christian specific in their suit.
The same day the congress of 1789 adopted the Bill of Rights—it acted to propose a National Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer be proclaimed by the President. On Oct.3,1789 President George Washington complied his proclamation from New York City is a matter of record.As is Roger Sherman’s commentary on the laudable call for Thanksgiving and Prayer being warranted by the precedents in the Holy Writ. Too much of history must be rejected if one were to agree with the atheists and those professionally offended by Prayer.
The concept of separation of church and state simply means the govt cannot establish a church like the Church of England and then try to make everyone go to that church. It does not mean you cannot have prayer in schools, public meetings or anyplace else.
- Urgent -
- Today’s the Day!
- Alliance Defending Freedom’s We The People Pray -
Today’s the day to pray!
Today is a crucial day in American history — the continuance of public prayer and the public acknowledgment of God is in jeopardy, literally, not figuratively. Today, our friends at the legal group Alliance Defending Freedom are arguing the case Town of Greece v. Galloway before the U. S. Supreme Court. The Court will then decide whether or not public prayer will be allowed to continue in America.
Please pray for this case today — and then especially for the next three days. Between now and Monday, the Court Justices will vote and reach their decision as to whether or not to continue permitting public prayer (such as at city councils, school boards, and legislatures), or whether it will now be officially prohibited. Once they make that decision during the next three days, they will then choose which one of them will write the majority and the minority opinions. It may be next June before they publicly announce their decision, but the crucial time is RIGHT NOW!!!
So please pray today, and for the rest of the week and weekend, as the fate of the 400-year-old tradition of public prayer in America literally hangs in the balance.
(More details about this case are below, in the email from Alliance Defending Freedom.)
Asking God’s blessing on public meetings is a cherished American tradition that is now in jeopardy. This practice is at risk because of a challenge brought by two citizens from Greece, New York, who claim to be “offended” by prayers given to open their city’s council meetings.
For years, the Greece Town Council has allowed volunteers from the community to begin its meetings with an invocation. But rather than respect the volunteers’ heartfelt prayers for divine guidance, the two “offended” citizens and Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a lawsuit to end this cherished practice.
Alliance Defending Freedom and lead counsel Thomas G. Hungar will go before the U.S. Supreme Court November 6 to defend the Town of Greece – and all Americans who want to pray in a manner consistent with their faith – in order to preserve public prayer in America.
You and all other citizens in cities and towns across this nation should have the same freedom to pray as our Founding Fathers did when they drafted our Constitution. If you believe in prayer and the value of praying publicly as part of legislative gatherings, please show your support by signing the Statement of Support for Public Prayer.
Sign the Statement of Support
Please also pray for this case, Town of Greece v. Galloway, and the attorneys who will be defending public prayer before the U.S. Supreme Court on November 6.
For later.
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