Posted on 08/29/2006 6:29:42 PM PDT by dukeman
Ceremony violated separation of church and state, ACLU says
About 180 members of four local churches surrounded a public middle school yesterday to bless the building and those who use it, despite objections from the American Civil Liberties Union about the constitutionally mandated separation of church and state.
Led by a minister from Epworth United Methodist Church, members of Epworth, Karl Road Christian Church, Karl Road Baptist Church and Ascension Lutheran Church joined hands and circled halfway around Woodward Park Middle School at 5151 Karl Rd. In unison, they asked the "great divine one, creator of us all" to bless each "student … teacher, staff and administrator" entering the building.
"Rain or shine, ACLU or not, nobody can stop those who have spirit-filled hearts," said Patricia Miller, who led the ceremony.
The nearby churches have an ongoing relationship with Woodward Park, providing supplies and other support. Miller said the ceremony at first was planned for inside the building and had the approval of the school’s principal, Jill Spanheimer.
Last week, Spanheimer said she didn’t remember that conversation and that the ceremony would have to be outside. Yesterday, she watched the ceremony from her yard, which borders the school grounds. She would not comment afterward.
The ACLU of Ohio sent a letter to Spanheimer and Superintendent Gene Harris last week, saying that permitting the event would violate the constitutional requirement that public schools remain neutral on religious matters. District officials responded with a letter stating the event was constitutional according to a U.S. Supreme Court case from New York state. In Good News Club v. Milford Central School, the court ruled that any group is permitted to rent and use public-school facilities.
"Anyone can walk onto the school grounds during the weekend," said Columbus Public Schools spokesman Greg Viebranz.
Gary Daniels, litigation coordinator for the ACLU of Ohio, said this event differed from the renting of school buildings, even those rented for a religious use.
"There’s not that appearance of endorsement by the school," he said. "There are worse scenarios that can be presented as far as being problematic from a church-state perspective, but this by no means is something that in my mind would pass constitutional muster."
Several participants said yesterday they did not think the ceremony, which lasted less than a half-hour, violated the separation of church and state, and some said they didn’t think church and state should be separated anyway.
Residents near the school who were interviewed by The Dispatch said they were not upset. In fact, they thought the event was a positive way to kick off the school year and benefited the neighborhood.
Yah, "Penumbras and emanations" -- announcing (I was going to say "presaging") the death of the Constitution as we once knew it.
It's dead, Jim.
How about a quarterly prayer circle linked around ACLU headquarters? If there ever were a group of boys and girls in need of prayer......
That would prolly be private property. Gotta do it at public buildings, schools, courthouses, etc. Besides, I'm not a good enough person to care about the souls of ACLU vermin.
God bless the ACLU people with repentence, the conviction of sin, and fear of the judgement to come. Amen
"Now if it had been a group of Wickins the ACLU would have smiled fondly..."
Yep, just like my neice not being allowed to sing Christmas carols in music class, but Kwaanza tunes are *just fine*...
When did we become such a nation of PC-pansies?
When did we become such a nation of PC-pansies?
I think it is more serious than 'pansies'. We turned the corner into total immorality and relativism when the President of the United States lowered his pants and got blow jobs in/near the Oval office, and then lied about it to our faces. IMO that was an event that signaled a complete downward spiral into anti-Christianity throughout our country because Clintoon made it a laughing stock.
+
If you want on (or off) this Catholic and Pro-Life ping list, let me know!
Excellent idea.
LOL!! That's great. Maybe someone could post a list of all the ACLU offices in the country and people can prayer-freep them.
Just think - all varieties of Christian denominations, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Native American ceremonies - the more the merrier!
Just in case you want it...
Fantastic idea. I'm with you.
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