Our nation is becoming more diverse than ever when it comes to matters of faith. In light of these changes, this is exactly the wrong time for our courts to assert a position of privilege for Christianity – yet that is exactly what they are doing.

A federal appeals court ruled Aug. 23 that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives may limit its opening invocations to theistic believers, a move that Americans Uni­ted says elevates the rights of religious people over non-theists.

While the ruling is limited to the issue of legislative prayer, it’s still troubling. It is yet another in a problematic line of recent decisions that allow government entities to endorse and promote religion (just about always Christianity) as long as it’s being done for 'historic' purposes.