What was the score of Engel v. Vitale? This landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, decided in 1962, has had a profound impact on the separation of church and state in American public schools. The case hinged on the constitutionality of a prayer that was required to be recited in schools, leading to a significant ruling on religious freedom and the establishment clause of the First Amendment.
The case originated in New York, where the Board of Education had adopted a prayer for public schools that students were required to recite at the beginning of each school day. This prayer, which was non-denominational and intended to be inclusive, read as follows:
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation. And deliver us from evil. Amen.”
Parents in New York challenged the constitutionality of this prayer, arguing that it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The Supreme Court, in a 6-1 decision, agreed with the parents and held that the prayer was unconstitutional. The score of the case was Engel v. Vitale 370 U.S. 421 (1962), with the majority opinion authored by Chief Justice Earl Warren.
The court’s reasoning was that the prayer, although intended to be non-denominational, was still an establishment of religion because it was being recited under the auspices of the state. The Court held that the Establishment Clause requires a strict separation of church and state, and that requiring students to recite a prayer at school was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.
The ruling in Engel v. Vitale has had lasting implications for religious expression in public schools. It has been followed by a series of other Supreme Court decisions that have further clarified the boundaries of religious freedom and the establishment clause. The case remains a cornerstone in the ongoing debate over the appropriate role of religion in public life and education in the United States.
