Posted on 05/22/2006 6:46:45 AM PDT by dukeman
Russell Springs, KY - In protest to a court order issued hours before the Russell County High School graduation last Friday night, about 200 seniors spontaneously stood and began reciting the Lord's Prayer, prompting a standing ovation from a standing-room only crowd. The thunderous applause drowned out the last part of the prayer. The revival-like atmosphere continued when senior Megan Chapman said in her opening remarks that God had guided her since childhood. Megan was interrupted repeatedly during her speech by the cheering crowd as she urged her classmates to trust in God as they go through life.
On Friday, May 19, Judge Joseph H. McKinley, Jr., in a short three-sentence temporary restraining order, barred Russell County High School and senior Megan Chapman from including prayer at the graduation scheduled later that day. Liberty Counsel now represents Megan and will request the court to vacate its ruling.
The court's order is invalid, wrong, and limited. First, the court had no authority to order Megan to refrain from prayer as she was never made a party to the case. Moreover, a temporary restraining order which restricts a person's speech cannot be issued without first providing the affected person notice and an opportunity to be heard. Second, the court order runs contrary to the best legal precedent established in Adler v. Duval County School Board, a case successfully litigated by Liberty Counsel. Finally, the order was limited because it only addressed prayer. It did not, nor could it, prohibit Megan from thanking God or sharing her religious viewpoint during her speech.
Megan began her speech by saying that God has guided her since she was a child. The students repeatedly interrupted her with applause as she gave thanks to God throughout her message. Megan said the ceremony turned out better than it would have without the controversy. "More glory went to God because of something like that than if I had just simply said a prayer like I was supposed to."
Anita L. Staver, President of Liberty Counsel, commented: "Students have the right to include religious viewpoints during their graduation speeches. It is inappropriate for a school to censor religious viewpoints from a student's personal graduation message. Our country was founded upon prayer. Our currency acknowledges God. Our legislatures begin each session with prayer. Our students have the right to voluntarily pray during graduation. It is insensitive and unconstitutional to silence student-initiated, voluntary prayer."
As part of its Friend or Foe Graduation Prayer Campaign, Liberty Counsel has a legal memo available at LC.org which addresses the law regarding graduation prayer.
As painful as it may be, this Hoosier salutes these Kentucky high school kids.
Bravo to the students!!! Flips the bird to the ACLU and all those who went to court over this!
Great post, Dukeman.
I think there is still enough sensibility in America to react with authority if we ever see video on the Nightly News of Christians being arrested for saying a prayer at a graduation ceremony.
As one who used to work at a local TV station (WREG-Memphis) you would be surprised at what DOESN'T get aired. (or maybe you wouldn't)
;)
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.The people can take back any power that they have given to the government. Something the judge in this case probably has a problem understanding.
A big thumbs up from here. Perhaps the President of the United States could come to one of these school to lead the prayer. I wish.
A big thumbs up from here. Perhaps the President of the United States could come to one of these school to lead the prayer. I wish.
I would like to see this judge try to hold them in contempt now. I think he's bitten off more than he can chew.
I used to work in TV and some of the most disturbing video I ever saw was the 1983 video of people being hauled out of a church in Nebraska over a Christian school.
That situation led to then Gov. Bob Kerrey backing down in favor of the Christian schools.
They already have failed. Check out this book:
Jesus in Beijing: How Christianity Is Transforming China and Changing the Global Balance of Power
China is sending missionaries to other countries while the Western church (in many cases) deteriorates in morals and becomes more polluted and secular.
You would have thought this story would have grabbed the eyes of FoxNews and they would have aired the story and tape.
I'd be pissed if my graduation turned into a religious revival. OTOH, the only reason it happened was because of the attempted censorship.
This judge should be impeached yesterday. Not even the ACLU filed to stop Megan Chapman from saying a prayer. It was the judge who took it upon himself to illegally try to stop her from saying a prayer. This judge should never hold a gavel again.
Yeah, I can only imagine the horrors of having to listen to someone say a prayer. Oh the humanity....
Those kids got it right.
May God take you in his arms! In God We Trust and One Nation Under God must really cause you high anxiety!
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