A U.S. District Court judge has ruled against the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ policy of guest chaplains giving invocations before meetings, claiming that it discriminates on the basis of religion. For years, Pennsylvania’s lower legislative house has had an invocation policy in place that allows for guest chaplains who have ordained clergy or members of the legislative body to give opening prayers before meetings.
In a decision released Wednesday, Judge Christopher C. Conner of the Middle District of Pennsylvania ruled that this policy discriminated against atheists who wanted to give a secular invocation. “The Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ current guest chaplain policy facially violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution,” concluded Conner. READ MORE
