Citadel drops pre-meal prayer
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A VMI cadet says grace at the evening meal at the Virginia Military Institute in this file photo.
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CHARLESTON, South Carolina (AP) -- The Citadel has dropped mealtime prayers after a federal appeals court decision this week involving the Virginia Military Institute.
On Wednesday, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to reconsider a ruling that declared VMI's nondenominational group prayer unconstitutional.
Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore said he would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Until this week, a prayer was said aloud at the start of all three meals at the Citadel. The prayers were delivered by cadets who volunteered to lead the blessing while members of the assembled corps bowed their heads.
When upperclassmen returned from summer break on Thursday, they observed a moment of silence at meals, as would the 650 freshmen arriving Saturday, school officials said.
Cadets now have the option to pray silently, meditate or just wait until the period of silence is over.
Any prayer that cadets offer must be silent "so they don't impose what they are doing on whoever is next to them," Citadel President Maj. Gen. John Grinalds said Friday.
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