Lord's Prayer can't be sung at Iowa high school graduation
The Lord's Prayer cannot be sung at Woodbine High School graduation ceremonies on May 19, a federal judge has ruled.
The 30-year tradition is a violation of the First Amendment, whether or not most Woodbine students, choir members and parents want it, U.S. District Judge Charles Wolle said May 10 in a six-page written opinion.
"Our Constitution prohibits state-compelled religious conformance," Wolle wrote. The ruling bans the choir from singing the Lord's Prayer at graduation ceremonies or rehearsing the song for graduation ceremonies, as long as Ruby Skarin and her twin brother, Donovan, are students at Woodbine High School.
The Iowa Civil Liberties Union sued the school district on behalf of the Skarins, who are sophomores at Woodbine and come from an atheist family.
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This is what we get for allowing the state to run schools.
I wonder if refusing federal money might help. After all, the 1st Amendment says that "Congress shall make no law regarding an establishment of religion," not that states and municipalities may have no expressions of religion.
I know that recent court decisions in this matter (Elkhart IN's 10 Commandments plaque, for example) don't agree with this interpretation, but the plain language of the 1st Amendment would seem to bind only the federal government.
It's more than unconscionable that the religious-belief-system of atheists invariably takes precedence over the belief systems of other U.S. citizens. This is done by our courts; most practitioners of the ACLU; many fearful educators; uninformed or "scared" principals and superintendents. Yet voters, having the opportunity continue to stay home from the polls - or they keep voting to retain in office judicial personnel with a history of opposition to Christianity. They fail to let their school personnel and legislators know how they stand concerning the commission and omission of legal,traditional activities. As for me, I'm 73, I send congtributions to Jay Sekululow's group who battle activities in court, such as the case this article describes. In the U.S. Supreme Court, J. Sekulow wins - far more often than losing.
I think the Skarins need to be sued for interfering with their community's traditions, practices, and religious values. In the long run, it will help when "the State" no longer directs community activities, and when a principal or superintendent is no longer "the voice of the state." Additionally, it was totally inappropriate for Terry Hazard (living up to his name) to state that it was not the school's intent to endorse Christianity - or even to imply that any branch of government has any right to dictate or interfere with- or "endorse or disendorse" or attempt to align Christian practices into a "State-run" format. Iowa needs to learn or to remember that "anti-religion," is in itself a practice of religion - a belief system. We do not need atheists to direct our schools - in the form of a minority implanting their belief system, and "forcing it" upon the majority in a most undemocratic way. They do not need to pretend to represent the elected local and state (or Fed. Government) Education Offiicials) - nor do any have a right even to imply that the United States Government (including every facet of its myriad branches) is Anti-Religion. It may appear to be untrue, but that is why "Jay Sekulow" and his compatriots must continue what they're doing - to keep misguided locals (and greater) in line with The Constitution when they stray or deliberately "cross the line" into infringing upon the rights of all of us - including The Majority!
His adoption of an anti-Christian voice - with an anti-Christian-practices statement is completely in opposition to anything our Founding Fathers intended to inject into our educational systems.
What about the freedom of those who want to sing "The Lord's Prayer?" Is this article advocating Government sponsored atheism? It's ok for Christians to be offended but not atheists.
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