In what’s being hailed as a victory in the battle to defend Americans’ religious freedom, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that it is Constitutional for government meetings to have a prayer spoken at the opening of the gathering.

The decision was specifically praised for the very clear response to the issue.

“Even if [the decision] did uphold prayer in public legislative sessions, I wasn’t sure how clear that would be. This is crystal clear,” Rev. Rob Schenck told the Christian Post. “I would say, from reading the opinion, this is going to give very clear guidance in the future and it’s going to frustrate a lot of people who will attempt to get prayer at legislative sessions or any kind of public gathering shut down.”

The court’s five conservative justices said the prayers at the opening of the meetings were for the participants in the meeting and not for the general public.

Those who have tried to eliminate Christianity from public life were expectedly upset with the court’s decision.  Rob Boston of the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State said the court’s ruling upholding religious freedom was “out of step with the realties of modern-day America.”

“The majority opinion makes it clear that legislative prayer often isn’t coercive because the adults being exposed to it have options, such as leaving the room,” Boston said before making a threat.  “So, if any misguided religious right activists out there is thinking this decision opens the door for a return of official school prayer, they can forget it.”