An official, government meeting should not open with a sectarian prayer. In Forsyth County, NC the Board of Commissioners' policy of opening meetings with a prayer was contested by two county residents, who were represented by Americans United For Separation of Church and State and the ACLU. Today, a federal appellate court ruled in their favor, putting an end to the practice.
Does this mean that members of the Board of Commissioners do not have the right to pray at their meeting? Of course not. Any member who so chooses can pray individually, at any time. What they cannot do is make the prayer a compulsory part of the meeting by having the prayer be a part of the agenda. It is not fair to citizens and board members who may be of different faiths, or who do not practice any particular religion. The appellate court was correct to rule in favor of the US Constitution.
[via AU on 7/29/11]
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