On January 7, the director of FRC's Center for Religious Liberty, Ken Klukowski, filed a compelling brief with the U.S. Supreme Court concerning efforts to prevent prayer at the beginning of government meetings (whether they be local, county, state, or federal). Signed by 49 Members of Congress, including the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, the document makes a convincing argument that prayers before government meetings are constitutional and a matter of religious liberty for all Americans. A description of the brief, and the brief itself, are available here.
FRC President Tony Perkins, noting the importance of the case, said:
The Founders understood that religion is good for society, and defended “the free exercise thereof.” Family Research Council is honored that 49 Members of Congress, including the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, have chosen FRC to present their arguments to the nation's highest Court. We hope the Supreme Court will reject the freedom-threatening Second Circuit opinion in this case, and reverse it.
Ours was not the only brief filed this week. A group of prominent theologians, Protestant and Catholic, filed their own brief with the Court, making a strong argument for legislative prayer. The conclude eloquently:
Ultimately, attempts to promote “civic religion” or “religious neutrality” must establish the judiciary as the arbiters of the “neutral”’ orthodoxy. This orthodoxy would necessarily favor some religions over others. The only way to avoid this establishment of religion and to remain truly neutral is to follow the guidance of Marsh v. Chambers: refusing to consider the content of any prayer and permitting each person to pray according to the dictates of conscience.
FRC’s friends at the Alliance Defending Freedom have compiled a list of all relevant briefs, including FRC’s and that of the theologians, here. As we go forward advancing your religious liberty in this effort, we ask for your prayers, both for wisdom for us and for a sound outcome from the nation’s senior jurists.