June 14, 2006 - New York - The American Jewish Committee today filed an amicus brief with the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals arguing that sectarian prayers have no place in state legislatures. 

The case, Hinrichs v. Bosma, is an appeal brought by the Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives of a lower court decision prohibiting the opening of legislative sessions with Christian prayers. The lower court found that "the evidence shows that the official prayers offered to open sessions of the Indiana House of Representatives repeatedly and consistently advance the beliefs that define the Christian religion: the resurrection and divinity of Jesus of Nazareth."

The brief, which AJC filed in coalition with the Anti-Defamation League and the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council, argues that such a practice is contrary to the intention of our nation's Founders, "who began the tradition of ecumenical public prayer that continues to this day."

"Ours is a religiously diverse nation," said Jeffrey Sinensky, AJC's General Counsel. "Our public institutions, most importantly our governmental institutions, should honor that diversity, not trample upon the Constitution by imposing a majoritarian religious view."