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'''''Engel v. Vitale''''', 370 U.S. 421 (1962) was the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] decision that banned classroom prayer from [[public schools]].  Specifically, the Court ruled "state officials may not compose an official state prayer and require that it be recited in the public schools of the State at the beginning of each school day - even if the prayer is denominationally neutral and pupils who wish to do so may remain silent or be excused from the room while the prayer is being recited."[http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=370&invol=421]  

'''''Engel v. Vitale''''', 370 U.S. 421 (1962), was the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] decision that banned classroom prayer from [[public schools]].  Specifically, the Court ruled "state officials may not compose an official state prayer and require that it be recited in the public schools of the State at the beginning of each school day — even if the prayer is denominationally neutral and pupils who wish to do so may remain silent or be excused from the room while the prayer is being recited."[http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=370&invol=421]  

Justice [[Hugo Black]], known for his judicial hostility to [[religion]] and support of [[pornography]] as [[free speech]], wrote the opinion for the 6-1 Court.  Only Justice [[Potter Stewart]] dissented.  Justices [[Felix Frankfurter]] and [[Byron White]] recused themselves.

Justice [[Hugo Black]], known for his judicial hostility to [[religion]] and support of [[pornography]] as [[free speech]], wrote the opinion for the 6-1 Court.  Only Justice [[Potter Stewart]] dissented.  Justices [[Felix Frankfurter]] and [[Byron White]] recused themselves.

Justice Black's opinion was remarkable for citing only one [[precedent]], establishing a modern record for lack of judicial authority.  His sole citation of precedent was to an opinion he himself had written, ''[[Everson v. Board of Education]]'', and it was for the purpose of referencing some historical material included in that decision rather than for its holding.

Justice Black's opinion was remarkable for citing only one [[precedent]], establishing a modern record for lack of judicial authority.  His sole citation of precedent was to an opinion he himself had written, ''[[Everson v. Board of Education]]'', and it was for the purpose of referencing some historical material included in that decision rather than for its holding.

In addition America’s morality has declined. Since the banning of school prayer there has been a 225 percent increase in amount of children without fathers, a 343 percent rise in illegitimate births and a 454% enlargement in the violent crime rate. <ref>[http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/usadecline.html Quantifying America's Decline]</ref>  Those data are taken from the Index of Leading Cultural Indicators, which in turn relies on statistical data collected since 1960.

In addition, America’s morality has declined as a [[causal association|consequence]]. Since the banning of school prayer, there have been a 225 percent increase in amount of children without fathers, a 343 percent rise in illegitimate births, and a 454% enlargement in the violent crime rate. <ref>[http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/usadecline.html Quantifying America's Decline]</ref>  These data are taken from the Index of Leading Cultural Indicators, which in turn relies on statistical data collected since 1960.

Erwin Griswold, a former Dean of the Harvard Law School, criticized this ruling. Griswold said in a speech that the Court had no authority to prohibit prayer in public school:<ref>''Washington Star'' (Mar. 3, 1963)</ref>

Erwin Griswold, a former Dean of the Harvard Law School, criticized this ruling. Griswold said in a speech that the Court had no authority to prohibit prayer in public school:<ref>''Washington Star'' (Mar. 3, 1963)</ref>