Philadelphia, PA, August 23, 2019 … ADL (the “Anti-Defamation League”) today expressed profound disappointment and concern following a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upholding the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ prayer policy barring nontheists from offering the Chamber’s daily invocation.
“There is no question that today’s decision condones religious discrimination against nontheists and opens the door to discrimination against other religious minorities who seek to offer legislative invocations,” said ADL Regional Director Nancy K. Baron-Baer. “ADL continues to believe that the Pennsylvania House’s unfair prayer policy violates longstanding U.S. Supreme Court precedent prohibiting government from preferring one faith over others.”
She added: “This exclusionary policy is completely antithetical to the principles of religious freedom, equality, and pluralism upon which our nation was founded, and we hope this ruling will be appealed.”
ADL filed a friend of the court (amicus) brief in this case, Fields v. Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, which was prepared by the law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP and joined by a broad coalition of civil rights and religious organizations.
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ADL is a leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of anti-Semitism and bigotry, its timeless mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. ADL is a global leader in exposing extremism and delivering anti-bias education and is a leading organization in training law enforcement. ADL is the first call when acts of anti-Semitism occur. ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate. Follow us on Twitter: @ADLPhiladelphia.