VA Funeral Restriction Challenged

A Texas religious group has joined with veterans’ groups in the Houston area to challenge a Department of Veterans Affairs policy that restricts the mention of God during veterans’ funerals. The Dallas-based Liberty Institute presented arguments before a Texas federal judge June 28, on behalf of Veterans of Foreign Wars District 4, American Legion Post 586, and the National Memorial Ladies, contending that the director of the Houston National Cemetery violated the constitutional right to freedom of religion by instituting the bar. According to the lawsuit, government officials on four occasions barred VFW and American Legion burial teams from including prayers or burial rituals unless they submitted the texts of them to the Houston cemetery’s director for approval. The VA also told funeral home directors they were not allowed to present options of prayer to bereaved families, the suit alleges. Judge Lynn N. Hughes set a July 15 deadline date for the government to respond to the charges, as well as a July 21 status hearing.