Associated Press - January 15, 2008 5:34 PM ET

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A federal appeals court has declined to reconsider a ruling that threw out a lawsuit challenging the practice of sectarian prayers in the Indiana House.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana had asked the full U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear the case. That came after a three-judge panel ruled 2-1 in October that taxpayers who sued over the prayers did not have the legal standing to do so.

House Minority Leader Brian Bosma says today’s ruling means the House could resume its normal practice, which in the past has sometimes included mention of Jesus Christ.

But ACLU of Indiana legal director Ken Falk says the ruling was based on the litigants’ standing, not on the merits of the case. He says the ACLU likely would file a new lawsuit if the former practices resume.
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