We think that, by using its public school system to
encourage recitation of the Regents' prayer, the State of
According to this passage, the main reason the
Supreme Court ruled the prayer unconstitutional was
New York has
adopted a practice wholly inconsistent with
because
the Establishment Clause.
doubt that New York's
There can, of course, be no
M
program of daily classroom
• time was taken away to recite the prayer.
invocation of God's blessings as prescribed in the
• the state was promoting religious activity.
Regents' prayer is a religious activity.
• religion was against the law in New York.
-Supreme Court Opinion,
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
• the prayer promoted Catholicism.