U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Indian River Prayer Case
Downstaters will have to be content with praying on their time.
The justices this morning left intact the decision of the Philadelphia-based 3rd Circuit. That court said the involvement of students made the board meetings different from legislative sessions. The three-judge panel likened the meetings to a school graduation ceremony, which the Supreme Court said in 1992 couldn’t be a forum for organized prayer.
The school board’s long-standing practice of opening with a prayer — which was almost always Christian — was challenged in a 2005 federal lawsuit by a Jewish family who alleged the practice was exclusionary and violated the U.S. Constitution.
I just do not understand the need to turn every public gathering, whether it be a graduation cermonies, school board meetings, and other assemblies into religious events. It is as if someone wants to repeal the First Amendment and establish a National Religion, and then have the Government force the population to worship God according to the dictates of the National Religion.
I am convinced now that is the intent of those who want to have a public prayer at every gathering, every board meeting, every council meeting, every ceremony. They will say it is tradition. They will say that preventing forced prayer is infringing on their First Amendment rights to force their religion upon all. Apparently to some the free exercise of their religion requires them to force others to worship.
Indeed, it is a facet of Christianity and Mormonism: missionary work and conversions. However, our Constitution says explicitly that you cannot have the Government do your missionary and conversion work for you.
Do it yourself, Evangelicals.
Can’t wait for my first school board meeting when I request a moment to give thanks to Krom.
Krom kicks your SkyDaddy in his clouds
Did Krom send his only son born of a virgin to die because the first female got hungry in a garden? DID HE?!?
Krom ain’t got nothing on the Flying Spaghetti Monster and his noodly appendages of doom.
Think of what the ISRD could have done with the money they spent fighting an unwinnable lawsuit.
They could have built a small chapel on the grounds of the High School.
“Do it yourself, Evangelicals”, including a silent prayer, if you so wish. They don’t seem to like that idea. I wonder why?
One of my professors (a Catholic Jesuit priest) said that organized religions like the seperation of Church and State as well. His point was that, as a Church that is focused on spiritual maters, would you want to have to deal with potholes?!?
@FMD -LOL, the Jesuits, some of the best minds around – they taught me analytical thinking, with the strap in one hand and the cathechism in the other…..
even tho they either had the state try to destroy them OR they ruled the state – -from the pulpit..
What a group! they would never want to fix potholes……
So if the IRSD board begins its next meeting with a prayer, basically flipping the bird at the legal system, what would be the proper recourse? Do you call the local cops (or the sheriff, who is also giving the 1 finger salute to various legal opinions)?
Should I ask them if we could pray to Ralph? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22LF6gaAiKc
AM – if the ISRD board decides to violate this ruling, they can and will be found in contempt and it will cost the taxpayers $$$$$. It could also be grounds for removing them from office.