The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday morning in a case that started in the Town of Greece. It’s the first time in 30 years the Court has taken a case that examines the role of public prayer at a government function.
When Susan Galloway and Linda Stephens objected to the Christian prayers that traditionally opened Greece town board meetings five years ago, nobody could have imagined that the case would find its way to the nation’s highest court. But discussions with town officials led to a lawsuit that reached a federal circuit court. And after the Second Circuit ruled the town had violated the Constitution, advocacy groups on both sides of the issue pushed the case to the Supreme Court.
The Court last ruled on legislative prayer in 1983. In that case, Marsh v. Chambers, the justices found that states and other government bodies could employ chaplains at taxpayer expense to offer prayers. Lawyers for Galloway and Stephens say town meetings are different, because the invocations are being given not only for lawmakers but for citizens who are often compelled to attend in order to participate in local
government.
The town is being defended by a group called Alliance Defending Freedom. The U.S. Solicitor General’s office was among the groups filing briefs in support of the town. Greece says there’s no difference between its prayers and the invocations protected by the Marsh ruling three decades ago. It says any town resident of any denomination can volunteer to offer prayers.
Galloway, who is Jewish, and Stephens, an atheist, say the town gave special recognition to Christian ministers who delivered prayers. Galloway and Stephens will be in the courtroom for the arguments Wednesday morning…and then they’ll wait for the justices to deliver an opinion that could come any time between now and next June.
Stay tuned to AM 1370 and check out wxxinews.org this week for updates on the Supreme Court hearing.