Posted on 05/29/2008 7:29:53 PM PDT by rawhide
CHICAGO (AP) - A federal judge on Thursday barred school districts statewide from holding the daily moment of silence suitable for prayer that is required under state law.
U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman said he had given school districts time to object to his March 28 preliminary injunction on enforcement of the moment of silence law but received no objections.
He therefore extended to the entire state the preliminary injunction originally designed to apply only to suburban Buffalo Grove District 214.
The law passed by the Illinois General Assembly says every school district in the state must hold a nonreligious moment of silence suitable for prayer or contemplating the day's activities at the start of the day.
Talk radio host Rob Sherman, an outspoken atheist whose daughter, Dawn, attends Buffalo Grove High School, sued to stop enforcement.
He expressed satisfaction after Gettleman issued his order.
"It's good, it's what I wanted," Sherman said. He said the law was designed to unconstitutionally "proselytize Christianity to a captive audience" of school children.
The preliminary injunction issued by Gettleman in March had applied not only to District 214 but to the Illinois State Board of Education.
Attorneys said that could be interpreted to mean that moments of silence already were barred statewide.
But the state board had maintained it had no authority to enforce such an injunction, leaving it unclear as to how the measure applied.
Legislation in response to the lawsuit has stalled.
Sherman said Thursday he would work with "friendly legislators" to reverse the law.
So now will they be required to have a moment of noise on that day?
A good reminder for those who refuse to vote for McCain because he's not a "perfect" conservative. Do you really want to see hundreds of new such appointments by President and Mrs. Obama?
ping
I’ve got a serious question related to this I hope someone can answer. Does this state also ban the “Day of Silence”?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
What part of “or the free exercise therof” don’t those morons get?
“I’ve got a serious question related to this I hope someone can answer. Does this state also ban the “Day of Silence”?”
Of course not. That’s different. You wouldn’t understand.
"Any law on the books is only as good as anyone's willingness to enforce it." - Rush Limbaugh
What part of “or the free exercise therof” don’t those morons get?”
“Any law on the books is only as good as anyone’s willingness to enforce it.” - Rush Limbaugh
If that doesn’t say it all, I don’t know what does..
Yep. This jerk lives three blocks from me, and my youngest will be attending the same school next year as his little “Madelyn Murray” protege.
I’m attempting to stir up a movement for a bunch of T-shirts that read “God Bless Buffalo Grove High School.” Can you imagine if fifty kids all showed up in them on one day?
well i’m so sorry that your youngest has to attend public school.. and this one especially... sending prayers your way!
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