Colorado Emerges Victorious in Day of Prayer Case

Colorado's governor has the right to issue Day of Prayer proclamations, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday.

The decision reverses a 2012 appeals court decision that found that the proclamations unconstitutionally favored the religious over the non-religious.

"Contrary to the court of appeals, the supreme court holds that the use of public funds to cover the incidental overhead costs associated with issuing the honorary proclamations does not, by itself, constitute an injury sufficient to establish taxpayer standing,"  the Colorado Supreme Court opinion states.

"Furthermore, contrary to the trial court, the supreme court holds that the psychic harm endured by Respondents as a result of media coverage revealing the existence of the honorary proclamations does not, by itself, constitute an injury sufficient to establish individual standing," the court concluded.

The Alliance Defending Freedom praised the ruling.

"All Americans - including governors - are free to speak out in recognition of constitutionally protected freedoms, such as prayer," ADF Senior Counsel Michael J. Norton said in a statement. "The Colorado Supreme Court was right to keep in place the governor's freedom to do just that in the form of a prayer proclamation."

Congress established a National Day of Prayer in 1952, and most states hold statewide days of prayers to coincide with the national event.