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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway to uphold legislative prayer:

“I welcome today’s Supreme Court decision upholding the long American tradition of legislative prayer. The Town of Greece’s practice of allowing guest chaplains – who could be of any faith, or none at all – to lead invocations reflects America’s long tradition of religious freedom.

“I filed a friend-of-the-Court brief in this case, and personally attended the Supreme Court arguments, because I believed that important principles that make America a unique and vibrant country were directly at stake. This decision is an important vindication of what defenders of religious liberty have long known: we are enriched, not threatened, by the open and free expression of religion.

“Unlike so many other countries around the world, America always has been a place where religion brings people together. In times of war and peace, tragedy and triumph, prayer has united us. Prayer has inspired many of the great reforms that have strengthened and delivered on the promises of liberty made in 1776.

“Legislative prayer, in particular, is a practice that goes back to the very Founders of the Republic. It has enriched my career as a public servant, both in the Florida legislature and now in the U.S. Senate. That tradition hung in the balance in this case. If the lower court’s decision had been allowed to stand, we would have taken a dangerous turn away from the vision of our Founders. We would have moved one step further toward the ‘naked public square’ where religion is stigmatized, feared, and something best kept private.

“Defenders of religious freedom at home and abroad should be encouraged by today’s ruling.”