Chicago Police Department Should Not Be Mixing Religion With Official Business

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has been made aware of what they consider to be serious violations of the Establishment Clause by the Chicago Police Department.

Being brought into question are the mandatory religious activities taking place during graduate ceremonies of police officers.  These include an invocation and benediction, with officers present ordered to remove their hats and participate. They then have to recite an oath that includes the words “before God,” which are emphasized.

In addition, the Department’s annual recognition ceremony and luncheon also includes invocations and benedictions, and the back of the event’s program lists a “National Police Prayer,” something that is overtly religious and includes a specifically Christian reference.  These invocations and benedictions are typically delivered by a chaplain, who describes his position at the Department as “pastor of the largest parish in the City of Chicago,” referring to the 12,000 plus Department employees, their families, and retirees.  The chaplain also promotes and conducts a weekly “police mass.”

FFRF has informed the Chicago Police Department that such religious conduct and its chaplain program are endorsing religion by unconstitutionally forcing members of the Department to participate in religious activities that require they profess belief in a religion.   FFRF learned of these egregious activities from an individual within the Chicago Police Department.

On May 9th, FFRF Legal Fellow Ryan Jayne sent a letter to Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie Johnson, requesting a halt to its endorsements of religion within their organization.