| When a practice is customary, and suddenly is forbidden, then the community, which did not choose to alter the custom itself, has been deprived. It is a matter of simple usage. In any event, it is customary throughout the country to solemnize certain occasions with a benediction. They hire a chaplain for the Senate to do so for their sessions, for example. The practice had been, in these local events, to rotate clergy from major religious congregations, mostly Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish, and to sometimes specifically request that the prayer be non- sectarian. In general the form was "God, please bless those present", with a few additional thoughts elaborating the sentiment. If there is no good reason not to permit such a thing, and I think there is not, then it should be left alone....... |
