Prayer at city council meetings still legal on 5-4 vote at Supreme Court.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that city council meetings can still be opened with prayer, at least for now. On a 5 to 4 vote the court said,

Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the majority, said the prayers are ceremonial and in keeping with the nation's traditions.

"The inclusion of a brief, ceremonial prayer as part of a larger exercise in civic recognition suggests that its purpose and effect are to acknowledge religious leaders and the institutions they represent, rather than to exclude or coerce nonbelievers," Kennedy said.

At least for now the exclusion of God from the public square wasn't extended.  My how we've moved towards a judicially mandated secular state.  Looks like one vote from locking it in.