A federal judge says the Sussex County Council must end its practice of reciting The Lord’s Prayer when it begins its meetings.
US District Court Judge Leonard Stark issued a temporary injunction saying that it likely violates the First Amendment of the Constitution prohibiting the establishment of religion.
Local residents sued the county last year to stop practice.
Judge Stark wrote that since The Lord’s Prayer has been the only prayer recited by the Council over the last six years it is likely that the Council is giving Christianity an unconstitutionally preferred status.
Sussex County officials have argued that the prayer was a simple call for spiritual guidance and did not favor any religion.
Sussex County government spokesman Chip Guy told the Wilmington News Journal that the County was aware of the decision but still had not reviewed it with county attorneys.
The injunction takes effect June 15th with the next scheduled Council meeting slated for June 19th.
