Court Agency Bans Prayers At 4-H Meetings

The Indy Channel ^ | June 26, 2006 | AP

[Abathar]

CROWN POINT, Ind. -- Prayer has been banned at 4-H meetings in Lake County, Ind.

A memorandum issued last month by the Lake County Cooperative Extension Service said prayer is forbidden at all times, including to "begin or close meetings, fundraisers, camp sessions, including meals, and/or award ceremonies."

Stan Sims, the county extension director, said he issued the directive because: "We want to respect peoples' beliefs and be inclusive."

No single incident prompted his note.

The formal prayers had been a tradition at various events, including 4-H, which has more than 800 youth members in Lake County.

The new policy is a nod to state and civil rights law and recommendations from the Extension Service Diversity Advisory Council.

[Abathar]

"The new policy is a nod to state and civil rights law and recommendations from the Extension Service Diversity Advisory Council. "

Trying to remember the last time I met a Muslim at my daughters 4-H club meeting, it's not coming to me....

[nmh]

"No single incident prompted his note. "

SO what brought this on?

[Bob J]

Why do prayers have to be group efforts for God to hear them?

[Red Badger]

"We want to respect peoples' beliefs and be inclusive."

Bass Ackwards per his statement.........

[caver]

Lake County Indiana could sure use some prayer.

[Abathar]

I don't know, this is just stupid. Have you ever been to a 4-H meeting? I have never seen anyone who would take offense at a nondenominational prayer there. Ever. These little wannabees gt a taste of power and think they can just change 100's of years of tradition for no other reason than because they know they can.

[Red Badger]

Trying to remember the last time I met a Muslim at my daughters 4-H club meeting, it's not coming to me....

They're the ones who buy all the Ammonium Nitrate for growing things...............

[Hegemony Cricket]

Well, huh, if they really wanted to be 'inclusive', and not make anybody feel uncomfortable, maybe they should eliminate the swine show (and all the other unclean animals). I will be watching for similar stupidity to filter down through Hancock County 4H. Hopefully this is not coming from Purdue...

[Abathar]

"The new policy is a nod to state and civil rights law and recommendations from the Extension Service Diversity Advisory Council. "

They don't of course, but they have been doing it since they started that club.

Any time here in Indiana you get more than 3 farming families together and you can bet there is going to be a prayer sooner or later, and I don't think there is anything wrong with that, if you don't want to pray then don't, why ruin it for all the other people that like to do it?

[Abathar]

They just hang around the CO-OP and the extension office, they can get the diesel fuel there with one stop, saves on time you know...

[Red Badger]

Bubba Muhammed?........

[Texas_Jarhead]

"The new policy is a nod to state and civil rights law and recommendations from the Extension Service Diversity Advisory Council."

In the name of diversity Christian religious expression must be eradicated.

[Mr. Lucky]

Ya just gotta wonder exactly which law of the State of Indiana this gentleman thinks prohibits voluntary prayer.

[nmh]

We've been debating on whether or not to get involved in a local 4-H. So I haven't been to a formal meeting. We are looking at this as a replacement for the Girl Scouts. Since the Girl Scouts allow lesbians in there for ANY position - we simply don't want to risk out daughter being molested.

[Abathar]

I guess they could just say "Go to h#ll Lake county" and become private like the boy scouts or something, but that would just bring in the ACLU faster I bet...

[azhenfud]

"We want to respect peoples' beliefs and be inclusive."

---

I think he quite nicely has that ass backwards.

[pabianice]

[pointsal]

Better look up the corporate ladder to the university that directs the operations at the Cooperative Extension Service....

[Abathar]

Its a nice group, the kids have fun and they learn a lot about responsibilities and maturity there.

I like it because the people there are just good down to earth folks that care about there kids and the kind of life they want them to lead. There's not a lot of rich people who just drop their kids off and leave them to go shopping, but people who are genuinely interested in letting their kids experience rural life.

[nmh]

I've never heard of that before!

Godless liberals can sure conjure up important sounding labels ... that attempt to hide their true agenda.