Lankford: Supreme Court's Town of Greece Decision a Victory for Religious Liberty

Press Release

Representative James Lankford (R-OK) expressed gratitude today after the Supreme Court issued its 5-4 decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway, which affirmed the Town of Greece, NY did not violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution when it opened its monthly board meetings with a prayer.

"I am grateful the Supreme Court stood firm to protect the free and open exercise of religion in our nation," said Lankford.

"Our freedom of religion is a right protected in the Constitution. A government that acknowledges people of faith is not the same as a government that establishes or demands a particular religion. The U.S. House of Representatives opens each legislative day with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer. Allowing people of faith to freely express their faith has been a part of the American constitutional system since its founding. Any other decision by the Supreme Court would have denied two centuries of history and ignored the plain text of the First Amendment.

"Members of all faiths in the U.S. are free to speak to God in their own way, including Christian officials. I am pleased the Supreme Court did not try to prevent the Town of Greece from continuing their long tradition of prayer."

Justice Kennedy delivered the opinion of the Court and noted in the text, "Congress continues to permit its appointed and visiting chaplains to express themselves in a religious idiom. It acknowledges our growing diversity not by proscribing sectarian content but by welcoming ministers of many creeds."

"As we await the Court's decision in the Hobby Lobby case, I am encouraged by their decision in this case," added Lankford. "On the heels of the National Day of Prayer last week, it is important we remember we are a nation of many faiths. At the same time, we should not allow people with no faith to silence people of faith. That is not freedom; that is political correctness. I am proud to live in a nation where we can freely practice our religion. Many parts of the world do not enjoy that freedom today. I pray that one day everyone around the world can praise God as freely and openly as we do in the United States," concluded Lankford.

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