Nonbelievers win suit over Pennsylvania House prayer policy
Source: Associated Press
Mark Scolforo, Associated Press
Updated 1:54 pm CDT, Thursday, August 30, 2018
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A federal judge has halted the Pennsylvania House of Representatives' policy banning people who don't believe in God from giving the invocations made at the start of each day's legislative floor session.
U.S. Middle District Judge Christopher Conner on Wednesday sided with atheists, agnostics, freethinkers and humanists who challenged the policy that has limited the opening prayers to those who believe in God or a divine or higher power.
Conner said the restrictions on who may serve as guest chaplain violate the U.S. Constitution's prohibition on making laws that establish a religion.
The judge said Republican House Speaker Mike Turzai, whose office manages the guest chaplains, has denied the people and groups who challenged the policy the ability to give an invocation "due solely to the nontheistic nature of their beliefs."
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Nonbelievers-win-suit-over-Pennsylvania-House-13193931.php
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