From the WSJ Opinion Archives
HOUSES OF WORSHIP
Grace Under Fire
A school-prayer ruling attacks academic freedom.
Last month, a federal judge in Lynchburg, Va., ruled that the traditional supper prayer at Virginia Military Institute, a state-supported college, is unconstitutional.
It is my view, as VMI's superintendent, that the court has profoundly misunderstood VMI's purposes and, more important, has profoundly misjudged the intellectual independence of VMI's cadets.
The supper prayer is part of the school's military tradition. Prayer in the military is a common occurrence, said on the battlefield and at an array of ceremonies, including the midday meal at the U.S. Naval Academy. (Are we next to be told that those prayers are unconstitutional?) Supper at VMI is also a military ceremony.
It begins with a series of bugle calls in the barracks alerting cadets to the approaching mandatory formation. Cadets form in their platoons, companies and battalions for roll call. The day's orders are announced. The companies march in formation to the mess hall, to a drum cadence, parading past the officer in charge.
Just before entering the mess, all but our new cadets may fall out of formation and go their own way. They may enter the mess hall later, while the meal is still being served. Those who proceed into the mess hall are called to attention while the senior cadet presents the corps to the officer in charge. Then they are ordered to "rest," a position that requires them to remain standing, but not attentive.
A brief, nonsectarian, inclusive blessing is then recited over the loudspeaker by a cadet. The prayer is of the sort heard every day at military ceremonies and in civilian settings, such as civic-club luncheons and--not least--our state and federal legislatures. After grace, the cadets continue with their meal.
VMI requires no participation in this grace. There is no mandatory head bowing, hand folding, eye closing or other manifestation of a prayerful attitude. In fact, cadets at rest can talk quietly, eat, drink . . . in short, disengage from the point in the ceremony where the prayer is recited. They are merely expected to remain standing until the ceremony is concluded. Such deportment is similar to what will be expected of them should they choose a military career; and it is a mark of respect that we would expect of them in any civilian setting.
Thus the judge's ruling that our tradition is a coerced religious exercise ignores the facts. It depends on the notion that these adult cadets are being forced to pray, even though they may entirely ignore what is being said and even absent themselves, as many cadets do for a variety of reasons.
But there is more at issue here than facts alone. Much of VMI's educational program derives from exposure to the habits and demands of leadership, especially military leadership. Can it truly be unconstitutional for VMI to ensure that its graduates can recite a nonsectarian, inclusive blessing over a meal if called upon to do so? Must this be taught in the classroom rather than by exposure to the practice? Can a court direct our institute how to teach what we think necessary?
And what of the value of reflecting upon those things in our lives that are good and reminding ourselves to be grateful for them? The prayer accommodates those cadets who wish to contemplate the blessings that Providence has visited upon our nation and school.
Men and women in positions of military and civilian leadership are called upon to make substantial personal sacrifice. They need to be able to focus quickly on the reasons for that sacrifice, in a way that eliminates any question about its worthiness and value. If a question remains, the resolve to serve will waiver. In hesitation is failure. Our cadets are educated for success.
The founders of VMI, like the founders of our country, were a faithful people, as most Americans, and most cadets, are today. Hearing a brief prayer before supper is no more the establishment of religion than the singing of "God Bless America," a prayer set to music. As the Supreme Court observed in approving prayer by salaried legislative chaplains, such prayers are "no more than a tolerable acknowledgement of beliefs widely held among the people of this country." Surely a military institute, preparing adults to defend this country, can tolerate exposure to such prayers too.
Gen. Bunting is the author of "An Education for Our Time" and "All Loves Excelling," a novel.
