Government Offices: Not the Place for Prayer Services?

The U. S. Department of Labor's headquarters in Washington, D. C. , is a place where labor laws are made and enforced. It's not a place of worship. But on December 10, things changed. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer hosted a prayer service. It was called nondenominational. But it only had Judeo-Christian speakers. No Muslim, Buddhist, or non-religious voices were included. This event was inspired by something else. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth started a monthly Christian prayer service at the Pentagon. A pastor from Hegseth's church gave a sermon. He asked for Christians to come together and for God to move through the Pentagon and the nation. A former Labor Department lawyer worked there for nearly 40 years. They said the building was never used for worship before. They believe it shouldn't be now. Hegseth's service was criticized. Lawyers said it went against the First Amendment. It prohibits the government from establishing a religion. A former Pentagon lawyer called it a "clear violation. "Despite complaints, Chavez-DeRemer went ahead with her service. One speaker was a Catholic anti-abortion activist. He talked about Advent and Jesus Christ. Another speaker was a rabbi. He is part of a pro-Trump group. He made remarks against gay marriage, transgender people, and gender pronouns. Some employees found his words cruel and despicable. Everyone has the right to their beliefs. But the government should stay neutral on religion. The ACLU says promoting prayer pressures people to adopt certain beliefs. It can also cause religious conflict. Yet, it seems some are pushing for government-backed religion. Chavez-DeRemer's prayer service is another step away from the First Amendment's protections. Government offices were never meant to be places of worship. If we value religious freedom, we should keep it that way.