Military School Seeks Legal Sanction of Prayer
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Virginia Military Institute’s evening dinner prayer should be constitutional because it is intended for development of military leaders, not for religious indoctrination, a lawyer for the state told a judge.
Solicitor General William Hurd said that court rulings against government-sanctioned prayers in public schools don’t apply to VMI.
Evening prayers have been a tradition at VMI since at least the 1950s. Before cadets are served, a member of the corps usually reads a nondenominational prayer.
Hurd said cadets are not required to pray, bow their heads or stand at attention during prayer. They can leave the mess hall or stand at ease, he said.
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