Pre-meeting prayers are protected

In light of newly elected Democrats on the DuPage County Board calling for an end to pre-meeting prayers, it is important to look to precedents set by prior Supreme Court cases in order to not violate the First Amendment's guarantee to protect every American citizen's right to free exercise of religion.

The Supreme Court already has ruled on the constitutionality of prayer to begin government meetings in the case Town of Greece v. Galloway, a case whose circumstances resulting in it being brought before the Supreme Court case is nearly identical to the situation unfolding at the DuPage County Board meetings.

The decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway asserted that as long as the prayer is not used to convert or alienate any of the people in attendance, it remains constitutional and is not in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

In addition to the constitutionality of pre-meeting prayer being supported by a Supreme Court ruling, the claim that conducting an invocation before would result in members of other faiths feel discriminated against is frankly untrue.

Members of other faiths have been invited to lead the invocation prior to board meetings. However, none has obliged. Overall, it is unreasonable to attempt to remove religion from every aspect of life, rather it should be celebrated as long as it is not exclusionary, just like the invocation prior to the prior to the DuPage County Board meetings.

Caitlyn Mathews

Hawthorn Woods