While raising the basic questions under slightly different factual situations, the cases permit of joint treatment. Once again, we are called upon to consider the scope of the provision of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution which declares that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." These companion cases present the issues in the context of state action requiring that schools begin each day with readings from the Bible.
JUSTICE CLARK delivered the opinion of the Court. 203 APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA Syllabusīecause of the prohibition of the First Amendment against the enactment by Congress of any law "respecting an establishment of religion," which is made applicable to the States by the Fourteenth Amendment, no state law or school board may require that passages from the Bible be read or that the Lord's Prayer be recited in the public schools of a State at the beginning of each school day - even if individual students may be excused from attending or participating in such exercises upon written request of their parents. 203 (1963) School District of Abington Township, Pennsylvania v.
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