Case Name: Engel v. Vitale
Year: Argued 1962 ; Decided 1962
Result: 6-1 in favor of Engel
Related Constitutional Issue/ Amendment: 1st Amendment dealing with the establishment of religion
Civil Rights or Civil Liberties: Civil Liberties
Significance/ Precedent: By providing the prayer, New York officially approved religion which was unconstitutional. This was the first in a series of cases in which the Court used the establishment clause to eliminate religious activities of all sorts, which had been a part of public ceremonies.
Quote from Majority Opinion: “The petitioners contend… that the state laws requiring or permitting use of the Regents’ prayer must be struck down as a violation of the Establishment Clause… We agree with this contention since we think that, in this country, it is no part of the business of government to compose official prayers for any group of the American people to recite as a part of a religious program carried on by government.”
Dissenting Opinion: “I think the Court has misapplied a great constitutional principle. I cannot see how an “official religion” is established by letting those who want to say a prayer say it. On the contrary, I think that to deny the wish of these school children to join in reciting this prayer is to deny them the opportunity of sharing in the spiritual heritage of our Nation.”
6-Word Summary: NY approved religion, seen as unconstitutional
Year: Argued 1962 ; Decided 1962
Result: 6-1 in favor of Engel
Related Constitutional Issue/ Amendment: 1st Amendment dealing with the establishment of religion
Civil Rights or Civil Liberties: Civil Liberties
Significance/ Precedent: By providing the prayer, New York officially approved religion which was unconstitutional. This was the first in a series of cases in which the Court used the establishment clause to eliminate religious activities of all sorts, which had been a part of public ceremonies.
Quote from Majority Opinion: “The petitioners contend… that the state laws requiring or permitting use of the Regents’ prayer must be struck down as a violation of the Establishment Clause… We agree with this contention since we think that, in this country, it is no part of the business of government to compose official prayers for any group of the American people to recite as a part of a religious program carried on by government.”
Dissenting Opinion: “I think the Court has misapplied a great constitutional principle. I cannot see how an “official religion” is established by letting those who want to say a prayer say it. On the contrary, I think that to deny the wish of these school children to join in reciting this prayer is to deny them the opportunity of sharing in the spiritual heritage of our Nation.”
6-Word Summary: NY approved religion, seen as unconstitutional