Even if they are religion-specific, prayers at government meetings are part of the American tradition and do not violate the First Amendment’s ban on government establishment of religion, said a ruling Monday by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The decision involved a case brought by two citizens of Greece, N.Y., one Jewish and the other an atheist, who said they felt excluded and disrespected by prayers that opened town hall meetings. The prayers were supposed to be inclusive of different faiths, but were almost always Christian.

Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy said that exposing constituents to such prayers does not amount to coercion because people are not required to participate. He added that requiring nonsectarian prayers would make legislatures and the courts “censors of religious speech.”

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