Separation of church and state advocates lost their injunction to stop prayer and references to God at the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. The Minnesota Atheists were among several groups that brought the injunction as part of a lawsuit seeking to end religious references at the inauguration. The case was heard in U.S. District Court of Washington, D.C.

Judge Reggie Walton denied the injunction and said religious references at an inauguration are no different than legislative prayers in Congress, something the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld as constitutional. Walton also said, “I think it’s highly questionable that I have such authority” to stop the references at the inauguration.

The group bringing the injunction said that overtly sectarian prayers at the inauguration violate freedom from religion and the inclusion of prayer during government rituals creates the perception of government endorsement of that religion.

The lawsuit read, “One cannot freely live as an adherent to a religious ideology when the government uses its ‘power, prestige and financial support’ to impose a contrary religious doctrine while such individuals are observing its ceremonies.”

While the injunction was dismissed, Walton said that the lawsuit will continue forward.