Alright, all Christians, out of the pool. Let's go...
Posted on 02/05/2007 12:17:21 PM PST by Froufrou
A civil liberties group has filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of a high school football coach who was told he could not bow his head silently or get down on bended knee during student-initiated prayer before games. In October 2005, East Brunswick High School officials in New Jersey adopted a policy which forbade school officials from taking part in student-initiated prayer, arguing that while student athletes had the right to pray, that does not apply to coaches, because they are public employees and their participation would violate the so-called "separation of church and state." In July 2006, a federal court ruled in favor of Coach Marcus Borden, saying that his constitutional rights to free speech, freedom of association and academic freedom were violated. The school district, however, appealed the decision with the help of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "This is a time and place when student religious expression is both appropriate and constitutionally sound," John Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute, said in a statement. "This school district's insistence on forbidding the small gestures of respect Coach Borden desires to demonstrate to his football team is part of an unfortunate national trend to use the Establishment Clause as a justification for suppressing the liberty of individuals whenever matters of faith are involved," Whitehead added.
"East Brunswick High School officials in New Jersey adopted a policy which forbade..."
Names?
I dont' know how they could stop a whole student body plus the coaches etc. from praying.
I never knew that prayer was such an evil exercise.
There's just no way that The Almighty is pleased with this kind of oversight from Americans United for Separation of Church and State. My God, what do these people do on the weekends for fun? Pull wings off of flies?
Tony Dungy and some of the Colts need to go down there and talk with those pagans.
Every time a football coach prays....
Congress establishes a national religion.
Utter and complete nonsense. You can't pray if you're a government employee? People need to stand up for their rights.
All of the East Brunswick High School officials are Liberal/anti-God left over 60's hippies!
I view this as a bit of a red herring. The liberties group are trying to prop up the "separation of church and state....blah blah blah" thing again using the coach's religion as a sympathy generator.
His own school district appealed the decision that was in his favor.
People keep forgetting the second half of the 1st amendment freedom of religion clause. First off the words "seperation of church and state" never appear in the constitution, rather, is says Congress shall pass no law effecting an establishment of religion. Letting a coach pray with his team can in no way be considered a law creating an establishment of religion. However, the Constitution goes on to say that congress also cannot pass laws prohibiting the "free exercise thereof". This rule (with force of law) clearly and obviously prohibits the Coach from the free exercise of his religion.
"Friend of the court". Just love that phrase.
"... or prohibit the free exercise therof."
Seems fairly straightforward to me.
But then, I'm not a lawyer.
The prohibition clearly violates the coach's right to freely exercise his religious beliefs in violation of the Constitution.
It can't be much longer before the liberals make proclamation the the religious are a worthless people unless they obey the state. How many modern countries have painted the faithful out of their national picture. There are places if you are member of a church, you don't work for the government. If you work any where else, consider yourself lucky.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State should change its name to UnAmericans United for Elimination of Church and Glorification of the State, which it really is.
""East Brunswick High School officials in New Jersey adopted a policy which forbade..." "
"Names?"
We can start with Mayor Neary. I lived in EB for years. These people are liberal fruitcakes.
Excellent points.
I also wish to point out that sports events typically involve possibility for injury that in some cases can be life-threatening or even fatal. A moment to collect one's thoughts before engaging would seem more than appropriate, IMHO, whether for the purpose of religious reflection or not.
I always hoped for a charge levied against me for homeschooling my children, but there are too many homeschoolers in my area ... Power In Numbers.
I know some places have a major socialist force against them, but I still think it can be done.
Pray coach .. pray.
Actually it says "respecting" an establishment of religion. So, since they aren't allowed to "respect" religion, the government (in general) is REQUIRED to DISrespect it. So there ya go.
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