Which US Supreme Court Justice wrote for the majority in the decision in June 2000 to ban prayer from public school functions?

Answer 1

Justice John Paul Stevens wrote the majority opinion in Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, 530 US 290 (2000), which held that Santa Fe's policy of allowing student-led, student initiated prayer at football games violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Moderate Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion in the similar case, Lee v. Weisman, 505 US 577 (1992), that held allowing clergy to conduct prayers at official public school ceremonies was unconstitutional under the First Amendment Establishment Clause.

These decision were refinements and extensions of the original decision on prayer in public school, Engel v. Vitale, 370 US 421 (1962), in which Justice Black wrote in the majority opinion that non-denominational prayer in public schools violates the "Establishment of Religion" clause.

The Court has addressed various aspects of religion in public schools over the years; Justice Stevens' opinion was one in a long line of cases where the Supreme Court sought to define the proper relationship of religion to government-supported facilities and activities.

For more information about the Supreme Court's view on prayer in public schools, see Related Questions, below.

Answer 2

Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)

Associate Justice Hugo Black. This case was ruled on by the Warren Court in 1962.

The US Supreme Court held that the state of New York could not authorize or mandate public school prayer because the practice violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. This decision ruled prayer in public schools unconstitutional.


For more information on the US Supreme Court's view on prayer in public schools, see Related Questions, below.

Answer 3

The Supreme Court in Engel v. Vitale, (1962) held that it was unconstitutional for a public school to require students to recite a prayer.

A public school in New York required its students to recite the following:

Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our country. Amen.

In a 6-1 decision authored by Justice Hugo Black, the Court held that the prayer violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment because it promoted a religious belief regardless if the actual words were ambiguous as to which religion was being endorsed. The Court held that the Establishment Clause prohibited the government from endorsing a class of religions that recognized an Almighty God.

Case citation:

Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)

For more information, see Related Questions, below.

Answer 4

Prayer has NOT been banned from public schools. If a student wishes to pray they can. An opening morning prayer isn't done because there is no state religion.