The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that local governments can begin their meetings with prayer, even if they explicitly favor one religion. In the 5 to 4 decision, the Court said such prayers do not violate the Constitution as long as they don’t proselytize or demean other faiths. The case involved the New York town of Greece, where council meetings routinely opened with Christian prayers. Conservative Christian groups said the ruling was a victory for religious freedom, but religious minorities and secular advocates said it amounted to religious favoritism.