The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland is in an uproar because they’re praying before lunch at the U.S. Naval Academy. Heaven forbid! The next thing you know, the midshipmen will be reading the Declaration of Independence and thinking about how “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” entitle us all to liberty. Annapolis midshipmen hear-but are not required to participate in-grace before the noon meal. The ACLU’s legal director, Deborah E. Jeon, calls the tradition “compulsory religious services mandated by the government.” There are 4,300 midshipmen at Annapolis. The ACLU says nine of them felt “uncomfortable” during the brief noon prayers. You would think folks motivated enough to get an appointment to Annapolis understand-or at least can learn-that American naval officers are respectful of custom. A few whiners want to eliminate a 168-year-old tradition. Why are they at Annapolis?
(Phyllis Zagano is senior research associate-in-residence at Hofstra University and author of several books in Catholic Studies.)