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School prayer charges stir protests

DeeJayH

DeeJayH

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I agree there must be a separation of church and state. I agree that one must abide by the rules, even if one thinks they are silly. You work to change them
Students, teachers and local pastors are protesting over a court case involving a northern Florida school principal and an athletic director who are facing criminal charges and up to six months in jail over their offer of a mealtime prayer.
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but to be facing 6 months in prison for a prayer over a meal, that seems to be a tad bit overkill do you not think.
and some people call the religious zealots

School prayer charges stir protests - Washington Times
 
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You forgot to include the link. :) I'd like to read more.
 
DeeJayH said:
I agree there must be a separation of church and state. I agree that one must abide by the rules, even if one thinks they are silly. You work to change them

but to be facing 6 months in prison for a prayer over a meal, that seems to be a tad bit overkill do you not think.
and some people call the religious zealots
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I agree that it is overboard, but it's highly unlikely that they will face six months, which is obviously the maximum penalty.
 
This is a link to the story -- it's AP, so there are many links to many papers, etc..

School prayer charges stir protests - Washington Times

There's a great deal going on here which makes both sides look pretty bad.

Seems like the school employee handbook is completely out of line, yet at the same time, I don't see how you can forbid the valedictorian from speaking just because she "might" say something "Christian."

But the actual incident in question was after school hours and did not involve any students. That's an overreach, in my view. If that violates the separation of church and state, just because it was in a school building, then no church halls should ever be voting places.
 
Harshaw said:
But the actual incident in question was after school hours and did not involve any students.
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Well, someone is lying then:

Mr. Staver said no students were present at the event, which was held on school property but after school hours.

"He wasn't thinking he was violating an order," he said. "Neither did the athletic director. He was asked to pray and so he did."

Mr. Mach said the event was during the school day and that Mr. Lay, the school's principal, has said in writing that students were present.

"Decisions about the religious upbringing of children should be left in the hands of parents, not school officials," he said. As to whether prayer constitutes "religious upbringing," he said, "If school officials were promoting non-majority faiths and religious viewpoints, I suspect there'd be an uproar."
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It sounds to me like he wasn't acting as a school official, but was (in this instance, though not others) just a private citizen praying on school grounds. He was arrested for violating a court order, and it's entirely possible that the order was worded such that his actions violated it. If so I believe he has a good case to argue that the court order was unconstitutional, but arresting him was still the proper course of action. I'll wait until I get some more info to make a definitive statement
 
They are being charged with contempt of court for not following the terms of a lawsuit settlement entered into by the school district. The district agreed to bar all school employees from promoting or sponsoring prayers during school-sponsored events; holding school events at church venues when a secular alternative was available; or promoting their religious beliefs or attempting to convert students in class or during school-sponsored events.

The defendents offered mealtime prayers at a lunch for school employees and booster-club members who had helped with a school field-house project. Mr. Staver said no students were present at the event, which was held on school property but after school hours. "He wasn't thinking he was violating an order," he said. "Neither did the athletic director. He was asked to pray and so he did."
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Tough call in terms of violating the agreement. 6 months. Nah. The case alone will stop them from doing it again.
 
Would Jesus have approved of this prayer?
 
Well I've seen liberals trot that out on many occasions, so I thought I would.
 
that's not why they are facing jail time. they violated the terms of the settlement. period. you're post portrays them as innocently offering a prayer, which is disengenuous.
 
American said:
Would Jesus have approved of this prayer?
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I doubt it. Jesus was very clear about the manner in which we should pray. I think he would have seen this in the same way that he viewed the Pharisees.
 
liblady said:
that's not why they are facing jail time. they violated the terms of the settlement. period. you're post portrays them as innocently offering a prayer, which is disengenuous.
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As is this declaration.
 
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