Meal Time Prayer at the Naval Academy Threatened by ACLU

The ACLU today announced it would begin legal action designed to eliminate prayers given before meals at the U.S. Naval Academy. This prayers, say the ACLU, are threatening to those in attendance who chose not to pray.

Since its' founding in 1845 the U.S. Naval Academy has preceded each meal with a prayer giving thanks for food and the fellowship provided at meal time. A spoke person for the Academy said, "that this tradition is consistent with other practices throughout the navy".

Nine current midshipmen asked the ACLU to bring suit to end the practice saying that the practice made them uncomfortable and that they felt pressure to participate in the prayer. Other recent graduate, admitted Agnostics or Atheists, also offered comments saying that while they were never pressured to pray they did feel pressured participate in the process as the other midshipmen sat silently with heads bowed.

While some current and previous graduates of the Academy announced support for this legal action others were quick to point out that faith and prayer has along tradition in those who go to sea and point out that all naval ships are 'christened' prior to launching with a prayer and a blessing to keep the ship and its' crew safe.

Others point to the naval hymn which since its' introduction at the Academy in 1865 is sung by the navy Academy choir and includes the following well known opening verse:

Eternal Father, Strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty Ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.

There are chaplains of various dominations with access to the academy facilities and chaplains are part of the officer corps on combat ships at sea and, those killed in combat at sea are buried at sea following a non-denominational, chaplain led service.

One recent graduate of the academy questioned why the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate could open each session with a 'generic' prayer but midshipmen could not offer thanks for food and friendship offered during meals.

It is a difficult subject and one based on arguments that go all the way back to discussions made during the founding of this nation. Many of the nation's founding fathers were deeply religious. Others were not. Some like Jefferson considered themselves 'Deist' and while they believed in some "higher power" some "Creator of the Universe" they were not willing to conclude that any one faith or denomination represented the "One God". Jefferson was comfortable with accepting a "generic God" who was the creator of life and mankind.

Many, today accept this generic God of the universe as the God referenced in public declarations such as the motto "In God We Trust". This "God" is neither the God of Jews, Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Buddhists or Islamics, but is the God of us all.

Perhaps it is the generic God to whom thanks are given and prayers are lifted at the Naval Academy. Eventually the courts will decide.

A similar case against meal time prayer at The Virginia Military Institute, two years ago, found these prayers were a violation of constitutional rights of those who do not chose to pray.