A federal judge in South Texas has banned public prayer at a high school graduation ceremony after the agnostic parents of a senior went to court. The ruling from Chief U.S. District Judge Fred Biery in San Antonio came as Medina Valley High School in Castroville prepares for Saturday’s graduation.
Biery’s order, released Tuesday, was in response to a lawsuit filed by Christa and Danny Schultz on behalf of their son, Corwin, to block use of prayer. The judge says speakers cannot call on audience members to bow their heads, join in prayer or say “amen.”
Assistant Superintendent Chris Martinez says school officials will follow the order against public prayer, but they do not believe the district has done anything wrong.
Political correctness gone amok. We need more common sense and less litigation.
More here.
Pat, I found something very interesting. We attended the LSUS graduation Sunday before last, and the ceremony was opened with a prayer. And, it was closed with a benediction.
ReplyDeleteSure, it was a pretty generic prayer both times, but it was obvious that the minister was talking to God, and asking for His blessing on the event, and the graduates.
I was really kinda surprised. Pleasantly so.
I don't think any ruling can stop praying at the graduation ceremony. Any person wanting to pray in english, hebrew, farci, etc., can do so as they always have been able to do at any time.
ReplyDeleteMaking your prayer public at a public school graduation is a different matter.
I do find it shocking this was a ruling by a judge in Texas.
See, this is what I don't understand. And, I guess I never will.
ReplyDeleteCharlene seems to think that it may somehow be a bad thing to actually let a graduate (someone who has invested years in study, and perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars with hopes of using their degree to forge ahead in to a secure future) know that someone is praying for them.
I mean, "out loud, and on purpose." Someone will have the audacity to open up their mouth, and ask their God to bless that young person...to make their path straight...to keep them from harm...to open doors of opportunity for them...to order their steps toward success, etc.
That really is appalling, huh? That's a really sad comment, Charlene. Really, really sad.
I, for one, want every young person to know that someone is praying for them. And, I want them to know that EVEN IF THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN A GOD AT ALL, others that do are on their side.
That's really a sad comment, Charlene. Really, really sad.