Federal Judge Prohibits Prayer at Texas Graduation Ceremony

FOXNews.com ^ | June 2, 2011 | By Todd Starnes

[metmom]

A federal judge has ordered a Texas school district to prohibit public prayer at a high school graduation ceremony.

Chief U.S. District Judge Fred Biery’s order against the Medina Valley Independent School District also forbids students from using specific religious words including “prayer” and “amen.”

The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by Christa and Danny Schultz. Their son is among those scheduled to participate in Saturday’s graduation ceremony. The judge declared that the Schultz family and their son would “suffer irreparable harm” if anyone prayed at the ceremony.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said the school district is in the process of appealing the ruling, and his office has agreed to file a brief in their support.

[Elsie]

ANOTHER REASON TO HOMESCHOOL

No; another reason for the ENTIRE class to stand up and shout, "FU, Judge Biery!"

THOSE words ARE allowed in SCHOOL!

[Elsie]

time for massive civil disobedience - do the kids have the guts?

[Elsie]

Rolling over and playing dead.

[Pollster1]

How about a speaker that simply ignores this unConstitutional act?

That is an entirely appropriate option as well. I prefer a touch of humor, a heavy emphasis on the rule of law, especially the Constitution and the legal precedents on prayer at graduation and on prior restraint, and on the vast range of appropriate words that don't cross the line illegally ordered by this dictator in robes. If the entire class stood and recited the Lord's Prayer in response to the first word spoken from the podium, that would be nice too. There are so many options, but despite "the meek shall inherit the earth", this is not the time to comply with judicial overreach.

[1010RD]

Excellent and I’d invite a real Constitutional scholar to sit in the audience - someone from the ACLJ, the Federalist Society, or Thomas Moore, etc.

“The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.”
James Madison, Federalist No. 45, January 26, 1788

[Elsie]

NO!

Quit playing DEFENSE with these tinpot tyrants!

Take BACK your school!

LET them go Little Rock on you, and HISTORY will record the outcome.

[Elsie]

Why must people who are not of your religion be forced to pray your prayer?

Did you REALLY type this?

FORCED??

[metmom]

There are so many options, but despite "the meek shall inherit the earth", this is not the time to comply with judicial overreach.

I don't think that "meek" in that usage means: roll-over-and-play-dead and let everyone push you around and trample the Constitution, wussies.

[N. Theknow]

I wonder if they are angry at God and taking it out on the people who are their neighbors and used to be their friends. As little as they deserve it, I will pray for them. None of us deserve what God does for us, and they are in need of His help.

Angry at God for misfortune, or as the patron saint of atheism Charles Darwin referred to it: "Divine Punishment," fuels a lot of people who take it upon themselves to "teach Him a lesson."

When I was paralyzed from a fall and lying in my hospital bed, my priest came to give me communion. When he had left, my roommate, also paralyzed, said to me, "How can you still pray to God when He did this to you?"

My answer was, "When I look at a map of the universe it calls this planet Earth, not Heaven. And God did not push me down the stairs, but He was at the bottom to comfort me and rode all the way to the hospital with me. And He will see me and my family through this. Like any good Father, when misfortune strikes His children, His is the first heart that breaks."

[Elsie]

Since that is not the case here, the agitator who brought this case should respect the rights of the other people at this graduation to pray. If he doesn't like it, he can stay home.

No no NO!

I'm quite sure there could be found some volunteers who would clasp their hands tightly over his ears during the prayer.

No hearing of it; no irrepairable harm.

Life goes on...

[Elsie]

Why can't it be done private? Not a big fan of the teachings of Jesus?

Why can't it be done PUBLIC? Not a big fan of MAJORITY rule??

[Elsie]

Maybe I'm wrong, be I think most Christians would have a real problem if their children had to sit through a two minute long prayer to Allah every day.

You're wrong.

HAve you considered the FILTH that spews from TV 24/7?

'Christians' manage, somehow, to be able to protect their children from that.

Or is it only 'religion' that bothers you?

[Elsie]

We do not want publicly-funded atheist schools to proselytize to our children.

But it's ok to let them continue with OTHER peoples children?

Where's the OUTRAGE?

[Elsie]

Conscietious Objectors at the school level.

Do we REALLY just want to GIVE our country away to tyhrants and bullies?

DAMN!

We just had Memorial Day!

What did they DIE for????

[Elsie]

Our country was founded on religious freedom period.

And this judge is demanding that FREEDOM to be taken away.

[Elsie]

2. THE TAKING BACK OUR STREETS ACT:

Look familiar??

Well; the Pub's need to update it and include...

11. THE TAKING BACK OUR Schools! ACT:

[Elsie]

Let’s be frank, shall we?

Grover Cleveland's wife was; then she changed to Frances.

[Elsie]

I am asking you nicely to please not do that.

Or we on FR will suffer...

[Elsie]

Stand by your convictions.

Go Texas!

GO!

[Elsie]

HEY!!