Supreme Court rules in favor of public legislative prayers

[MrFun]

Here's hoping that those who are not religious, or are atheists, will not be compelled or feel pressure to pray along, if they do not wish to do so.

[Berzerker]

now maybe the court can explain how telling children to pledge their allegiance to the state's God in a classroom is not coercive

but I agree with the ruling, the tradition BS is just that and irrelevant to the establishment clause

the establishment clause requires a law that forces or coerces participation, this looks like a preacher does the talking and everyone else can listen to or ignore the hypocrites praying in public

well, Jesus called them hypocrites

[Felch]

It's a pretty cut and dry case. There's no establishment going on (like with the Church of England for example), so this is protected by the "no law...prohibiting the free exercise thereof" part of the first amendment. Unless somebody is pressured or punished for not participating, the townspeople of Greece, NY still have a right to practice their religion even when they're out in public.

[Ben Kenobi]

premature ejaculation does not make molesting children ok, you sicko.

I don't see why the anti-religion folks are in arms, unless they feel that public prayer ought to be illegal and banned. Do you feel this way Cockney?

[Berzerker]

so this is protected by the "no law...prohibiting the free exercise thereof" part of the first amendment.

not if its on the taxpayers dime, and it is even if the preachers dont get $$$ cuz the politicians are doin it on our time

[kentonio]

now maybe the court can explain how telling children to pledge their allegiance to the state's God in a classroom is not coercive

but I agree with the ruling, the tradition BS is just that and irrelevant to the establishment clause

the establishment clause requires a law that forces or coerces participation, this looks like a preacher does the talking and everyone else can listen to or ignore the hypocrites praying in public

Because apparently in the Town of Greece these prayer sessions are carried out on the day of session when citizens come before the assembly to try and get things like zoning issues and permits agreed. I wonder whether their chances of getting a fair hearing might be at all effected if they refuse to participate in the prayers? It's a pretty safe bet that at least the concern of refusing to participate in a ceremony that the assembly clearly embraces could coerce petitioners into feeling like they'd have to participate.

[DinoDoc]

The plaintiffs failed to prove that.

[DaShi]

This ruling is a major blow to organized religion.

[kentonio]

The plaintiffs failed to prove that.

No they didnt, the conservative judges just ignored it. Or to be more precise, it's impossible to prove that it happens, yet you'd have to be a moron to not recognize the possibility of it happening.

[DinoDoc]

No they didn't,

In the opinion of the Court, they did.

[Buster Crabbe's Uncle]

There's a fantastic Dickens quote that applies to the Supremes.

[kentonio]

In the opinion of the Court, they did.

No ****. Yet another one of these delicious 5/4's that are helping to make America such a united and outward looking place.

[Ben Kenobi]

not if its on the taxpayers dime, and it is even if the preachers dont get $$$ cuz the politicians are doin it on our time.

So the argument is because they are paid employees that means they can't engage in prayer? I don't see how that's remotely enforeceable. Insofar as it doesn't hinder their performance, I don't see why it's in the purview of the federal government to regulate these things.

[regexcellent]

Weird to see Greece in the news. It's a kind of crappy town about 10-15 minutes from me, eastern suburb of Rochester.

[Berzerker]

Because apparently in the Town of Greece these prayer sessions are carried out on the day of session when citizens come before the assembly to try and get things like zoning issues and permits agreed. I wonder whether their chances of getting a fair hearing might be at all effected if they refuse to participate in the prayers? It's a pretty safe bet that at least the concern of refusing to participate in a ceremony that the assembly clearly embraces could coerce petitioners into feeling like they'd have to participate.

hell, thats worse than Judge Roy Moore's 10 Commandments monument outside the courtroom down in Bama

but I doubt all the little people with business before them are in the room during the prayer, much less eyed by some keeper of the faith looking for non-believers to screw