Dispute over prayer at NY town council meetings comes before Supreme Court Wednesday

FILE - This Oct. 7, 2013 file photo shows people wait in line to enter the Supreme Court in Washington. The Supreme Court asks God for help before every public session. Now the justices will settle a dispute over prayers in the halls of government. The case before the court involves prayers said at the start of town council meetings in Greece, N.Y., outside of Rochester. It is the court's first legislative prayer case since 1983, when the justices said that an opening prayer is part of the nation's fabric and not a violation of the First Amendment. The federal appeals court in New York held that the town violated the Constitution by opening nearly every meeting over an 11-year span with prayers that stressed Christianity. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - This March 13, 2009 file photo shows Greece, N.Y. Town Supervisor John Auberger speaking the media in Greece, N.Y. The Supreme Court asks God for help before every public session. Now the justices will settle a dispute over prayers in the halls of government. The case before the court involves prayers said at the start of town council meetings in Greece, N.Y., outside of Rochester. It is the court's first legislative prayer case since 1983, when the justices said that an opening prayer is part of the nation's fabric and not a violation of the First Amendment. The federal appeals court in New York held that the town violated the Constitution by opening nearly every meeting over an 11-year span with prayers that stressed Christianity. (AP Photo/Jamie Germano, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) (The Associated Press)

A challenge to prayers at the start of town council meetings is the Supreme Court's latest attempt to find the appropriate role for religion in government.

The justices are hearing arguments Wednesday over opening prayers in the Rochester suburb of Greece, N.Y. A federal appeals court said the prayers violated the Constitution because nearly every prayer in an 11-year span was overtly Christian.

Greece is being backed by the Obama administration and conservative groups in arguing that the court settled this issue in 1983 when it upheld legislative prayer as part of the nation's fabric.

On the other side are the two town residents who sued over the prayers. They say that people who attend the meetings are a captive audience and should not be subjected to sectarian prayers.