Greece NY's imaginary friend spreads chill at town council meetings

This non-theist (a kindlier, friendlier term than atheist) sure is glad he doesn't live in Greece, NY. Thanks to the narrowest of margins, five Catholic justices decided that the Greece Town Council can open each public meeting with a prayer, which is always a Christian prayer and often invokes the power and guidance of Jesus Christ himself. On its surface opening a public meeting with a Christian prayer appears to violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment which forbids the establishment of religion in the public sphere. The specific language is unambiguous: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." This is an absolute prohibition and is designed to prevent, according to the Constitutional Framers, that when the roles of the government and religion are intertwined, the result too often has been bloodshed or oppression. How then, did the Court, in Town of Greece v. Galloway, square their decision allowing Christian prayer in town meetings with the Establishment Clause? It was curious indeed. They argued that first, prayer in a public meeting has a long tradition in American history. Second, they said that Greece, NY, didn't prescribe only Christian prayer even though in practice that's all my fellow non-theists and all non-Christian Greece residents get. Finally, they proclaimed that the opening prayer was innocent, caused no real harm and for God's sake, it's kinda cool. But try to imagine the mindset a non-theist or non-Christian trying to make a point or get a favorable ruling when the council members know full well he thinks their reliance on an imaginary friend for guidance is delusional nonsense. I'd bet on that person's opposition getting the favorable ruling. 

There are many more pressing issues to be corrected in our highly dysfunctional democracy, and nobody expects the Greece, NY opening Christian prayers will cause 'bloodshed or oppression'. But they can still intimidate and hinder the rendering of a full and fair hearing there for folks who don't believe. The Establishment Clause is designed to prevent that, but five of the six Catholics on the Court failed to employ that sacred concept. Opening each town council session with a Christian prayer will do nothing to aid council members render good governance. It will, unfortunately, provide a chill over folks infinitely more grounded in reality than those confusing the business of governance with the practice of religion.

Hey, Mr. President: after 238 years, isn't it time to elevate one of our side to the Supremes? And if you do, he or she won't need God's help.