10/25/11: Freedom of Religion Returned to Veterans Cemetary

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Veterans at the Houston National Cemetery are celebrating a national victory for religious freedom and expression.

Federal Judge Lynn Hughes signed a consent decree ordering the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to stop banning prayer and the word “God” at national cemeteries, to revoke national policies hostile to religion, and to reopen the chapel at the Houston National Cemetery.

Policies restricting religious speech brought on a lawsuit filed on behalf of a pastor and several veterans groups over religious censorship during military funerals at the Houston site. The case started in May when Houston Cemetery director Arleen Ocasio told a pastor that he could no longer pray in Jesus’ name at Memorial Day services there. The Liberty Institute took up the case on behalf of the pastor.