This in no way violates the separation of church and state, but rather assures the free exercise of religion by all citizens. (Though it is frequently forgotten, that’s the most important protection of the First Amendment.) The real issue isn’t whether public prayers at mandatory events, military, hospital, or prison settings are appropriate or not—those are often simply ritualistic.

The real issue is whether, in such facilities, we encourage voluntary, free religious expression. A military person witnessing his faith to another military person or groups of persons should never be prohibited—though it has been at some of our military academies and facilities. At the same time, military personnel should exercise prudence to avoid even the merest suggestion of coercion or taking advantage of rank. The ACLU would be better served suing to defend the individual’s right to free expression, free access of religious workers in public facilities, and the right to assemble on a voluntary basis for worship and witness.

Nobody wants the dead hand of government propping up a religion; but more important, nobody wants it suppressing religious expression. The ACLU and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State have gone to great lengths to assure that government does not sponsor religious efforts; if they would apply the some kind of effort to free religious expression we would all, Christian, Jew, Muslim, eastern religions alike, benefit.