Washington D.C., Nov 7, 2013 / 04:11 am
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.