By Michael Anthony Peroutka

There is a suburb of the city of Rochester known as Greece, N,Y.

Greece, N.Y., is governed locally by a town board.

The town board of Greece, N.Y., is NOT the Congress of the United States.

Let me repeat, the town board of Greece, N.Y., and the Congress of these united States are two separate and distinct entities. They are, as I say, NOT the same thing.


Because the implications of this one simple fact, if properly comprehended by the legal community, would absolutely dispose of the lawsuit brought against the town of Greece by two women named Susan Galloway and Linda Stephens who claim that the offering of prayer at town board meetings violates the First Amendment to the Constitution.


Let me explain.


“Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion. …”


In no way does it place a limit on what any other body, such as the town board of Greece, N.Y., may do.

So, since the town board of Greece, N.Y., is not Congress, the First Amendment has no legal application to whether it may decide to pray or not to pray before or during its proceedings.

“But Michael,” you ask, “On what authority have federal courts been meddling with public prayer issues over the last 60 years or so?”

Well, that’s a very good question.

Here’s another: “If the Constitution forbids Congress to make any law about prayer, then how can the Supreme Court make a ruling about a law that doesn’t exist?”

See the video regarding this subject:

Michael Peroutka is a constitutional commentator, former nationally syndicated talk-show host and founder of the Institute on the Constitution.

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