Our Municipal Father in Heaven: Epilogue

There are times when I hate to be right and this is one of those times. I’m sadly disappointed today but not at all surprised. Predicting that a majority of the religionist justices on the United States Supreme Court would once again drive a judicial stake through the heart of the First Amendment Establishment Clause was a lot like predicting that there will be daylight tomorrow afternoon in Washington D.C.

It was inevitable.

On August 21, 2013, in my Post, “Our Municipal Father in Heaven,” I predicted that the five Catholic Justices would find another dubious excuse to uphold the constitutionality of a Christian government God in the United States of America; just like they did with the national Motto: “In God We Trust,” and just like they did with the phrase: “Under God,” in the pledge of allegiance.

Later, on November 9, 2013 in “Our Municipal Father in Heaven, Part 2,” after reading the transcript of oral arguments in the case of Town of Greece v. Galloway, I reiterated my prediction that those same five religionist justices would affix their official stamp of approval  on the practice of government sponsored sectarian Christian prayers at municipal functions.

Today they have left no doubt that, in spite of the First Amendment Establishment Clause, the United States of America has an official government God, and government officials at all levels, from federal, state to local, may continue to lead, and encourage their captive subjects, whether religious or not, to stand up, bow their heads and participate in official prayers to the Christian government God – our municipal father in heaven.

Their reasoning: the practice of government sponsored prayer has been going on at all levels of government for a long time now – it’s historical – it’s traditional – no one is physically forced to participate -- so it’s only right then to allow it to continue.

In short, if constitutional violations are longstanding, historical and traditional in nature, as has been the case many times in the history of our imperfect nation, this Court is probably going to allow them to continue, especially if they agree philosophically with the tradition.

What’s next on the Supreme Court religious agenda?

Public school officially sponsored prayers will probably be next. After all, they’re historical; traditional; no child will be physically forced to participate, and the five Catholic Justices clearly agree philosophically with the tradition, having all been brought up with it themselves as kids.

They believe in our municipal father in heaven, our government God, and they’ll have absolutely no qualms about shoving their deity in every American citizen’s face whether we like it or not.