ACLU Sues PA School District to Stop Official Prayers at Graduation and School Board Meetings (5/26/2005)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: media@aclu.org

PITTSBURGH -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit today against the Keystone School District in Clarion County asking a federal court for an immediate order prohibiting school officials from allowing prayers at tomorrow's graduation ceremony and from continuing to open school board meetings with a sectarian prayer.

"When public schools reserve time at a graduation ceremony for prayers, they put the power, prestige and endorsement of the state behind whatever prayer is offered," said ACLU of Pennsylvania Legal Director Witold Walczak, who is representing families who have asked to remain anonymous because of fears for their physical safety. "Officially sponsored prayers make students and invited guests who subscribe to different beliefs and recite different prayers, or no prayers at all, feel like outcasts or second-class citizens."

The school district, located in western Pennsylvania, has in past years included an invocation and benediction led by a teacher at the graduation ceremony. Additionally, school board meetings open with the superintendent leading other board members and the audience in a prayer that references Jesus.

The ACLU sent a letter to the district on April 29, 2005, asking that it agree to stop the religious practices at both graduation ceremonies and board meetings. In a May 10 response, the district's solicitor indicated that the school agreed to the request. In recent days, however, the School Board President was quoted in the media saying that he was looking for a way around the agreement. Additionally, local religious leaders and community members have been pressuring the school district to keep the prayers.

Walczak said that these factors led to the decision to file today's lawsuit. "We need some binding legal document to ensure that the district will keep its promise to remove the prayers from graduation and school board meetings," he said. The district has signed a consent decree agreeing to stop the unconstitutional religious practices and the document will be presented to a judge today for signature.

The case is Doe v. Keystone School District. The complaint filed by the ACLU can be found online at www.aclu.org/ReligiousLiberty/ReligiousLiberty.cfm?ID=18351&c=139.

The demand letter sent by the ACLU can be found online at www.aclu.org/ReligiousLiberty/ReligiousLiberty.cfm?ID=18353&c=139.

The temporary restraining order can be found online at www.aclu.org/ReligiousLiberty/ReligiousLiberty.cfm?ID=18355&c=139.

The consent decree by the school can be found online at www.aclu.org/ReligiousLiberty/ReligiousLiberty.cfm?ID=18358&c=139.

I think the ACLU can issue its own press releases on its own website.

I do not think prayer should be allowed at a public school graduation ceremonies. It's simply not possible to do that without offending someone. If someone feels prayer is important for an occasion like that, they can always offer prayers themselves, perhaps either immediately before or after the graduation ceremony. It doesn't have to be during the ceremony itself.



However, on another note, nobody would ever point to me as being a defender of the christian faith, but when it comes to the issue of religous student groups using public school facilities in which to hold meetings, I find myself sympathetic towards christians. Too often the ACLU targets christian groups specifically, while tolerating groups of other faiths. That's not to say that they don't go after other faiths too, but I really do think that christian groups are less tolerated.

thank goodness for the ACLU!!!!

thank goodness for the ACLU!!!!

I agree, the ACLU has done much good. We would be in bad shape without it.

yes, before the ACLU the US a was terrible place to be, its so much better now that I dont have to look at crosses on war memorials!

The only cross one needs, if one is a christian, is the cross that is imprinted upon one's heart. True spirituality is internal.

its so much better now that I dont have to look at crosses on war memorials!

Huh??!?!

Were all the crosses removed from war memorials?! I missed hearing about that develoment.

I beleive the person is refering to San Diego. there was a public park overlooking the interstate. Some group put a cross on the hill in the public park the ACLU challenged it, Before the Judge could rule. Bush the Son wrote a presidential Dictate turning the park into a Federal War Memorial. (All Hail Hitler) The only thing I have heard lately concerning Military cemtaries is that they now allow the Wiccan imblem to be on the head stones.

What a waste of time.

I am no longer a christian - or even a religious believer - but it does not alienate me if everyone around me wishes to bow their head and pray. The constant resolution is that people can offer up their on prayers if they want - but isn't it just as easy for those who don't wish to pray to not?

Jere

The problem is not in the prayer the problem is in the location. Separation of Church and State is just that. The Air Force Academy has been going through hell because Fundamentalists are turning it into a Christian Strong hold. School is not the place for sponsored prayer.

What a waste of time.

I am no longer a christian - or even a religious believer - but it does not alienate me if everyone around me wishes to bow their head and pray. The constant resolution is that people can offer up their on prayers if they want - but isn't it just as easy for those who don't wish to pray to not?
Right they don't have to.Just to open up a can of worms, Look how much the school systems have changed since prayer has been taken out.

Here we are debating a two year old article posted by Warrior.

godsandmen thinks prayer at graduation ceremonies should be banned because someone might be offended. What ever gave him the idea that we have some sort of constitutional right to not be offended.

I am offended by teen age boys who wear baggy pants that start somewhere around their knees. Should such clothing be banned because it offends je?

Here we are debating a two year old article posted by Warrior.

godsandmen thinks prayer at graduation ceremonies should be banned because someone might be offended. What ever gave him the idea that we have some sort of constitutional right to not be offended.

I am offended by teen age boys who wear baggy pants that start somewhere around their knees. Should such clothing be banned because it offends je?


:thumbs: Perfect example, Frogger.






I think one thing everyone is missing here is that the prayer is not mandatory. If a school made sure that every person had their heads bowed - it would be wrong. A school giving them a choice is not wrong IMO.