As we celebrate our American freedoms this Independence Day, it’s a pleasure to report on some public officials who are taking religious freedom, equality and fairness seriously. I’m looking at Austin, Texas, where city council meetings are about to get even more inclusive, thanks to changes to the council’s invocation policy.

Americans United believes that nontheistic invocations can perform the function of solemnizing a meeting just as well as theistic ones can. Experience bears this out. Many state and local legislative bodies have included nontheistic invocations without a hitch.

Americans United plaintiff Deana Weaver offered an inclusive, secular invocation to the Pennsylvania Senate. Days later, Rep. Stephanie Borowicz offered a divisive, proselytizing invocation to the Pennsylvania House – which has barred Deana and other nontheists from offering secular prayers.