Posted on 01/31/2006 5:38:47 PM PST by wagglebee
(AgapePress) - A Texas high school has agreed to allow its Muslim students to pray during school hours. L.V. Berkner High School in Richardson had told its 30 Muslim students that praying on campus violated the U.S. Constitution's establishment clause, or the so-called separation of church and state.
In an e-mail memo to all teachers and staff, the school's principal had stated previously that "No students are to be allowed to leave [the] classroom at any time to go pray." However, after the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty intervened on behalf of the students, the Richardson Independent School District (RISD) moved to change its policy on student prayer.
Derek Gaubatz is Director of Litigation for the Becket Fund. He says many school administrators have the idea from the American Civil Liberties Union or from somebody else "that the 'wall of separation of church and state' means no religious expression is allowed and that it's impossible to do."
Gaubatz contends that informing L.V. Berkner High School and district officials "of what the rights of students are and that, in fact, religious expression of students is fully compatible with the school's other missions is a powerful message to send to all school administrators." And that message is "one that they really need to hear," he adds.
"We wrote a letter pointing the school at the relevant legal authorities," the Becket Fund spokesman notes. In it, the religious liberty advocates wrote the principal of the high school and demanded that he "cease and desist" immediately the school's "illegal decision to punish Muslim students" for exercising their right to pray.
Then, the Becket Fund representatives "actually went down and met with them, explaining that, where there's private student expression involved, that this doesn't create any impediment under the establishment clause," Gaubatz says. "In fact," he emphasizes, "students have a right under the [U.S. Constitution's] free-speech clause and the free-exercise clause to engage in religious expression in schools."
As a result of the Becket Fund's intervention, RISD officials admitted on December 16 that there had been some "confusion" regarding their policy and declared that Muslim students, like others, have the right to pray on campus. According to the district's new policy, students now have both an opportunity and a designated place to pray in the school, either at lunch or during 10 minutes of class.
"The First Amendment is alive and well again at Berkner High," Gaubatz says. All students win, he asserts, when school districts recognize their obligation to accommodate private student prayer.
Let em pray, but don't let the praying interfere with non mulsim students.
Richardson is going to hell in a handbasket. This is the same location as the Holy Land Foundation, that terrorist front closed down by the FBI post-9/11.
Well there goes church and state right there. If I had a kid goingto that school that was a strong believer, I would insist that he or she pray to Jesus, out loud, in class.
In English, Spanish, or Arabic? RISD is rapidly deteriorating into the next DISD.
Wonder what the muslim kids are praying for?.....
Islam does not mean peace
Islam means 'submission'
Liberals are behind the so called "religious tolerance" here.
QUINN'S FRIST LAW: Liberalism always generates the exact opposite of it's stated intent.
All this time I thought it meant "kill the infidels and die in the process so you can go to 'paradise' which is actually whorehouse with an open bar."
The First Amendment says absolutely nothing about a so-called "wall of separation" but it does say "shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof".
Prohibiting voluntary prayer in school violates the Establishment Clause by establishing atheism as the official State religious doctrine and also violates the Free Exercise Clause.
Well, so now I guess prayer will be returned to the schools for Christians and Jews. I guess they won't be able to ban the baccalaureate services or graduation speeches that mention religion. What a switch.
Where is the American Criminal Liberties Union in this matter, yelling "Separation of Church and State?" This decision returns the Manger and the Menorah to the Public Schools, the Ten Commandments back inside the courthouse, and Keeps God in the Pledge. I can't wait for Michael Newdow's response.
Thanks for the reply!
I'll bet that the ACLU stays out of this one.
Yeah, right.
As far as the ACLU is concerned, the only "religions" are Judaism and Christianity, everything else is a "special interest group" that deserves special protection and consideration.
B-b-b-but that would offend Muslims!!!
Imagine that. ;o)
I'm sure they can round up an old "porta-potty."
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