The U.S. Naval Academy requires every student to attend prayers before lunch. No one is excused. Everyone must listen to the prayer. There is no choice in the matter. Some midshipmen came to the ACLU to seek help, after raising their concerns through the chain of command. The ACLU-apparently unlike those who think it is a good idea to force people to attend prayers-believes that prayer should be a completely voluntary action that comes from the heart and that does not demand others’ participation. Attendance at prayer should be decided by individuals, religious communities, and families. It is not something that commanding officers in the military should require of their subordinates.

(T. Jeremy Gunn is the director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief in Washington, D.C.)