[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[June 24, 1992]
[Page 1009]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on the Supreme Court Decision on the Lee v. Weisman Case

June 24, 1992
    I am very disappointed by the Supreme Court's decision in Lee v. 
Weisman. The Court said that a simple nondenominational prayer thanking 
God for the liberty of America at a public school graduation ceremony 
violates the first amendment. America is a land of religious pluralism, 
and this is one of our Nation's greatest strengths. While we must remain 
neutral toward particular religions and protect freedom of conscience, 
we should not remain neutral toward religion itself. In this case, I 
believe that the Court has unnecessarily cast away the venerable and 
proper American tradition of nonsectarian prayer at public celebrations. 
I continue to believe that this type of prayer should be allowed in 
public schools.