Can someone give me an "Amen"?
SAN ANTONIO — (AP) - A federal appeals court has lifted a ban on public prayer at a Texas high school graduation.
The ruling Friday reverses the decision of a lower court that sided with an agnostic family who sued the school district.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Medina Valley Independent School District.
The ruling allows students at the high school to say the words "amen" and invite the audience to pray during Saturday's graduation ceremony.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Christa and Danny Schultz, whose son is graduating. The family's suit was being backed by the Washington-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
The Schultzes claim traditions at graduation, including the invocation and benediction, excluded their beliefs and violated their constitutional rights.
The ruling Friday reverses the decision of a lower court that sided with an agnostic family who sued the school district.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Medina Valley Independent School District.
The ruling allows students at the high school to say the words "amen" and invite the audience to pray during Saturday's graduation ceremony.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Christa and Danny Schultz, whose son is graduating. The family's suit was being backed by the Washington-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
The Schultzes claim traditions at graduation, including the invocation and benediction, excluded their beliefs and violated their constitutional rights.
(Story ends here, my comments follow.)
Well THAT is some good news!
9 comments:
There is a story that circulates routinely on the net about a valedictorian of a local high school who encountered the same BS, he was forbidden from mentioning God, much less thanking him.
He walked up that night to deliver his speech, paused for a little while, and then amongst eager anticipation...SNEEZED.
The entire graduating class screamed "GOD BLESS YOU!"
The young man smiled, said thank you, and walked back to his seat...
You gotta love urban legend;)
The godless will appeal. I would be surprised if this stands up when it reaches the supremes.
PattyinCT, I've heard that story before. Sorry to hear it's nothing but urban legend. But perhaps it will inspire a real life action of the same sort.
Sig94,the graduation is tomorrow. I wouldn't be surprised though if the plaintiffs continue on to the Supremes. It'll be interesting to watch, especially to see if the threatened punishment of the judge for any perceived infractions of his ruling is allowed to stand.
There was a news story about 9-10 years ago when I was still driving a cab in Omaha.
Seems a young lad had trouble getting his diploma from his high school. He'd filed an injunction against the school forbidding them to have a prayer during the graduation ceremony. So the obliging school officials changed it to a "pause for reflection".
Came the moment in the ceremony for the pause. Two seconds after it began, a stentorian voice in the audience said, "Our Father, Who art in Heaven ...". The audience quickly picked it up and finished the Lord's Prayer. Our young atheist stamped out of the ceremony in a fit of pique.
I don't remember the exact details of why he was having such trouble getting the diploma, and I'm not going to certify that it actually happened. But as Mr. Nightlinger said, "If it ain't true, it oughta be."
Anthony, sounds like that young man still had a fair amount of growing up to do.
This is great news!! AMEN! The suit against the school was yet another attack on our First Amendment rights.
What I've read from the New Atheists suggests a lot of the same kind of emotional retardation. Certainly not all atheists are like that, but definitely those that follow Richard Dawkins et al. into faithlessness.
Those who object to the crap on TV and in the movies and the increasing obscenities in every day life are told we don't have to look or listen. Why can't the atheists and agnostics be given those same choices?
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