Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

ACLU sues to stop graduation prayer in Clarion County district (Keystone)
phillyBurbs.com ^ | May 26, 2005 | JOE MANDAK (AP)

Posted on 05/26/2005 3:50:28 PM PDT by bulldozer

PITTSBURGH - The American Civil Liberties Union sued in federal court Thursday to prevent prayer at a high school graduation ceremony Saturday, and a judge signed a negotiated agreement upholding the ban.

The Keystone School District's school board and solicitor had agreed to the prayer ban on Monday, but the ACLU sued because some in the Clarion County community were hoping school officials would allow prayer anyway, said Witold "Vic" Walczak, legal director of the group's Pittsburgh chapter.

"When public schools reserve time at a graduation ceremony for prayers, they violate the Constitution by putting the power, prestige and endorsement of the state behind whatever prayer is offered," Walczak said

(Excerpt) Read more at phillyburbs.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: aclu; antitheist; churchandstate; graduation; prayer; purge; school
This is the fifth post on the Keystone School District prayer and ACLU controversy.
The other 4 previous posts on FR are here:

05/19/05 Keystone board warned to stop prayers

05/22/05 ACLU Puts Local District on Notice (Knox,PA)

05/24/05 Prayer issue draws large crowd at Keystone (PA ACLU Alert)

05/24/05 Local churches rally for Keystone School District(ACLU News)

1 posted on 05/26/2005 3:50:29 PM PDT by bulldozer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: bulldozer

Just once I'd like to see a judge order a lawyer for the ALCU starved to death. That would be justice.


2 posted on 05/26/2005 3:53:43 PM PDT by Centurion2000 ("THE REDNECK PROBLEM" ..... we prefer the term, "Agro-Americans")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bulldozer

The Communist ACLU keeps up its anti-Christian, anti-American efforts --- ongoing abuse of freedom. The tolerance for this trash, in this country, is amazing.


3 posted on 05/26/2005 3:53:43 PM PDT by EagleUSA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bulldozer

Since the ACLU likes to quote the Constitution so much, perhaps we should inundate their NYC office with:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

It does not say anything about separating church and state but does say no prohibition on the free exercise of religion. Therefore the ACLU is preventing that very thing!!


4 posted on 05/26/2005 4:02:50 PM PDT by SkyDancer ("If Love Can't Buy You Happiness, You Don't Know Where To Shop")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EagleUSA
The Communist ACLU keeps up its anti-Christian, anti-American efforts

As the line from the movie says....

"I hate those guys."

LVM

5 posted on 05/26/2005 4:03:39 PM PDT by LasVegasMac ("God. Guts. Guns. I don't call 911." (bumper sticker))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: bulldozer

Time is always reserved for a Valedictorian, Have the Valedictorian give the prayer and dont tell anybody until after she ahs done it. Then the ACLU can go suck a donkeys butt.


7 posted on 05/26/2005 4:09:23 PM PDT by sgtbono2002
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EagleUSA

It is not the ACLU that is at fault. Without the liberal judges and judicial system the ACLU would be ineffective.


8 posted on 05/26/2005 4:10:17 PM PDT by auburntiger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SkyDancer

Maybe someone can explain to me how the Clarion County District having a prayer at a graduation constitutes Congress making a law with respect to an establishment of religion?


9 posted on 05/26/2005 4:12:29 PM PDT by RWR8189 (I Will Sit on My Hands in 2008 Instead of Voting for McCain)(No Money for the NRSC)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: hasssan

The first thing you need to do is learn how to spell.


10 posted on 05/26/2005 4:14:37 PM PDT by RWR8189 (I Will Sit on My Hands in 2008 Instead of Voting for McCain)(No Money for the NRSC)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: auburntiger

its everyones fault for allowing this to get this far


11 posted on 05/26/2005 4:18:31 PM PDT by sure_fine (*not one to over kill the thought process*)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: bulldozer

I seem to remember an instance in Maryland? a while ago where prayer was prohibited. The entire audience stood up and recited a prayer, either the Lord's prayer or the 23rd Psalm, I can't remember which.


12 posted on 05/26/2005 4:19:27 PM PDT by I still care (America is not the problem - it is the solution..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care
I seem to remember an instance in Maryland? a while ago where prayer was prohibited. The entire audience stood up and recited a prayer, either the Lord's prayer or the 23rd Psalm, I can't remember which.

That's the way to do it.

In fact, they should have a Christian prayer, a Jewish prayer and a prayer for whatever other religions are represented in the community ready to be recited and have three or four or five prayers in a row.

That is fully protected by the First Amendment and there is nothing the ACLU can do about it.

13 posted on 05/26/2005 4:25:23 PM PDT by Polybius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: RWR8189

Perhaps it should be explained to the ACLU .... and the stupid judge ...


14 posted on 05/26/2005 4:26:58 PM PDT by SkyDancer ("If Love Can't Buy You Happiness, You Don't Know Where To Shop")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: auburntiger

"It is not the ACLU that is at fault. Without the liberal judges and judicial system the ACLU would be ineffective."

They go hand in hand, one evil abetting the other.


15 posted on 05/26/2005 4:42:06 PM PDT by SeaBiscuit (God Bless all who defend America and the rest can go to hell.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: hasssan

ACLU is not Nti-Christian. those fucking extrem Christian ass-holes need to take it ez on this country. it's a free country not a Christian country.
-----
And once you learn how to spell, you should go back to whereever you came from. And take your anti-Christian hate with you. And by the way, to displace your gross ignorance you brought into the country, America was founded on Christian principles and remains a majority Christain country. Don't let the door hit you in the arse.


16 posted on 05/26/2005 4:59:56 PM PDT by EagleUSA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Abram; Annie03; Baby Bear; bassmaner; Bernard; BJClinton; BlackbirdSST; blackeagle; BroncosFan; ...
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
17 posted on 05/26/2005 7:39:34 PM PDT by freepatriot32 (If you want to change government support the libertarian party www.lp.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sure_fine


www.stoptheaclu.org


18 posted on 05/26/2005 7:45:56 PM PDT by catroina54
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: bulldozer

Take the bat out of the hands of the ACLU and everybody else.

Schedule all activities not specifically related to classroom education OFF CAMPUS and make them voluntary. When the losers, malcontents, heathens and apathetic types don't show up then they have only themselves to blame.

Baccalaurate services, dances, etc. Who cares if the event has an 'official' stamp? If we are reduced to catering to the oddball 5% (usually your gays, atheists, etc) it ruins it for all. Let them attend school functions when there's nobody there!!!!! Serves em right!


19 posted on 05/26/2005 7:52:19 PM PDT by relictele (so there)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ViLaLuz

You can help stop the ACLU by contacting your representatives to support the following:

Rep. John Hostettler, R-Ind., filed a measure to amend the Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C. Section 1988, to prohibit prevailing parties from being awarded attorneys fee in religious establishment cases, but not in other civil rights filings. If you want to corral the ACLU, then consider a letter or email to your Congressman urging them to cosponsor this legislation.




May 26, 2005
H.R.2679 - Referred to House committee. (2005-05-26)
Filed under: Legislation — Administrator @ 12:00 am

Sponsor of H.R.2679: To amend the Revised Statutes of the United States to eliminate the chilling effect on the constitutionally protected expression of religion by State and local officials that results from the threat that potential litigants may seek damages and attorney’s fees.

Free Republic discussion and action links:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1413875/posts

Please spread the word.


20 posted on 05/31/2005 5:41:53 PM PDT by ViLaLuz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson