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Engel v. Vitale

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Supreme Court of the United States
Engel v. Vitale
Reference: 370 U.S. 421
Term: 1962
Important Dates
Argued: April 3, 1962
Decided: June 25, 1962
Outcome
New York Court of Appeals reversed
Majority
Earl Warren • Hugo Black • Tom Clark • John Harlan II • William Brennan
Concurring
William Douglas
Dissenting
Potter Stewart

Engel v. Vitale is a case decided on June 25, 1962, by the United States Supreme Court holding that states cannot hold prayers in public schools. The case concerned whether a voluntary morning prayer authorized by the New York State Board of Regents violated the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the New York Court of Appeals.[1][2]

HIGHLIGHTS
  • The case: The New York State Board of Regents authorized a voluntary prayer for the start of each day in public schools. A group organized to protest the prayer and argued that it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
  • The issue: Does the voluntary reading of a prayer in public schools violate the First Amendment?
  • The outcome: The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the New York Court of Appeals and held that states cannot hold prayers in public schools.


    • Why it matters: The Supreme Court's decision in this case established that states cannot hold prayers in public schools. To read more about the impact of Engel v. Vitale click here.

    Background

    The New York State Board of Regents authorized a voluntary prayer to be said at the beginning of each day in public schools in the state. A group organized to protest the prayer and argued that it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The New York Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Board of Regents, holding that the prayer was not in violation of the Constitution.[1][2]

    Oral argument

    Oral argument was held on April 3, 1962. The case was decided on June 25, 1962.[1]

    Decision

    The Supreme Court decided 6-1 to reverse the decision of the New York Court of Appeals. Justice Hugo Black delivered the opinion of the court. Justice William Douglas wrote a concurring opinion and Justice Potter Stewart wrote a dissenting opinion. Justices Felix Frankfurter and Byron White did not participate in the decision.[2]

    Opinions

    Opinion of the court

    Justice Hugo Black, writing for the court, argued that the recitation of a prayer in schools violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment because it established religious beliefs. Black contended that the establishment of a morning prayer also violated the separation of church and state.[2]

    “ We think that, by using its public school system to encourage recitation of the Regents' prayer, the State of New York has adopted a practice wholly inconsistent with the Establishment Clause. There can, of course, be no doubt that New York's program of daily classroom invocation of God's blessings as prescribed in the Regents' prayer is a religious activity. It is a solemn avowal of divine faith and supplication for the blessings of the Almighty.[3] ”
    —Hugo Black, majority opinion in Engel v. Vitale[2]

    Concurring opinion

    Justice William Douglas, in a concurring opinion, argued that the Court must protect individuals' freedom of religion by enforcing the separation of church and state. Douglas highlighted the dissent in Everson v. Board of Education to further his point.[2]

    “ Mr. Justice Rutledge stated in dissent what I think is durable First Amendment philosophy:


    'The reasons underlying the Amendment's policy have not vanished with time or diminished in force. Now, as when it was adopted, the price of religious freedom is double. It is that the church and religion shall live both within and upon that freedom. There cannot be freedom of religion, safeguarded by the state, and intervention by the church or its agencies in the state's domain or dependency on its largesse. Madison's Remonstrance, Par. 6, 8. The great condition of religious liberty is that it be maintained free from sustenance, as also from other interferences, by the state. For when it comes to rest upon that secular foundation, it vanishes with the resting. Id., Par. 7, 8. Public money devoted to payment of religious costs, educational or other, brings the quest for more. It brings too the struggle of sect against sect for the larger share or for any. Here one by numbers alone will benefit most, there another. That is precisely the history of societies which have had an established religion and dissident groups. Id. Par. 8, 11. It is the very thing Jefferson and Madison experienced and sought to guard against, whether in its blunt or in its more screened forms. Ibid. The end of such strife cannot be other than to destroy the cherished liberty. The dominating group will achieve the dominant benefit; or all will embroil the state in their dissensions. Id., Par. 11.' Id. pp. 53-54.


    What New York does with this prayer is a break with that tradition. I therefore join the Court in reversing the judgment below.[3]

    		”
    —William Douglas, concurring opinion in Engel v. Vitale[2]

    Dissenting opinion

    Justice Potter Stewart, in a dissenting opinion, argued that the recitation of a prayer in school did not violate the Constitution because the prayer was voluntary.[2]

    “ The Court does not hold, nor could it, that New York has interfered with the free exercise of anybody's religion. For the state courts have made clear that those who object to reciting the prayer must be entirely free of any compulsion to do so, including any 'embarrassments and pressures.' Cf. West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U. S. 624. But the Court says that, in permitting school children to say this simple prayer, the New York authorities have established 'an official religion.'


    With all respect, I think the Court has misapplied a great constitutional principle. I cannot see how an 'official religion' is established by letting those who want to say a prayer say it. On the contrary, I think that to deny the wish of these school children to join in reciting this prayer is to deny them the opportunity of sharing in the spiritual heritage of our Nation.[3]

    		”
    —Potter Stewart, dissenting opinion in Engel v. Vitale[2]

    Impact

    Federalism
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    •Key terms
    •     Court cases
    •Major arguments
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    • Federalism by the numbers
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    See also: Establishment Clause of the First Amendment

    Engel v. Vitale established that states cannot hold prayers in public schools, even if the prayer is voluntary and nondenominational.[2]

    See also

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Oyez, "Engel v. Vitale," accessed August 1, 2022
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Justia, "Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)," accessed August 1, 2022
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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