Posted on 03/08/2007 11:59:23 AM PST by Islander7
TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) -- The state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Newark public school district, saying a school's decision to hold its graduation ceremonies in a Baptist church violated a Muslim student's religious freedom.
The New Jersey ACLU said Wednesday that it was suing the school district because its decision to hold graduation in the church prevented West Side High School senior Bilal Shareef, a Muslim, from attending. Shareef's religious beliefs forbid him from entering a building with religious images, the civil liberties group said.
The incident violated provisions in the state constitution prohibiting public institutions from showing a preference for certain religious sects over others; compelling people to attend a place of worship; and segregating or discriminating against public school students because of their religious principles, the ACLU-NJ asserts.
"Schools should not sponsor activities that exclude some students from participation on the basis of religious belief," said ACLU-NJ's legal director, Ed Barocas, who is representing Shareef and his father.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Show me in the article ANYWHERE where it said there would be prayer offered up during the graduation ceremony. Or are you making a poor analogy again? (The latter, of course.)
A building is just a building. Hold it in a mosque, no big deal. Personally offended by being in a mosque? Don't go.
the ceremony is "voluntary."
Not just "voluntary" but completely voluntary.
LOL That was supposed to be 'mocking'? What does 'profit' have to do with mocking Mohammed. (Can't wait to hear this explanation, if you even have the nerve to try and answer.)
Funny how that is..
About right.
You and I might have different faiths, but at least we are at peace with one another. To invite an antagonistic faith like Islam is a recipe for disaster.
Uh, if you say so.
Goodbye. I have no time to waste on someone so clearly a DU plant created to make conservatives look like idiots.
LOL My, you do get your panties all twisted up when the light is shown on your lunacy.
Interesting observation. The majority of people want to have equal outcomes for very different choices. The fact is, not all decisions are equal and some will result in a wide variety of outcomes.
This is not a Muslim issue BTW - it happens every day in our lives. We all make personal decisions about a multitude of issues and if my choices don't lead to as fufilling of a life as perhaps someone else has, it's not up to the government to make it level.
Rough ol' world sometimes
Well put.
I would love to have everyone embrace my faith as I do, but the fact is that's just not going to happen. My faith is certainly strong enough to withstand the buffeting that comes from those of other faiths.
I am content to let eternity sort it all out. I happen to feel I serve a God who is able to get along without having to make sure that I'm not exposed to any other gods. My heart goes out to someone who worships a god whose powers are such that they lose their efficacy when exposed to a cross or some other symbol of another belief system.
of course this comment is not true since his religion forbids graven images of all kinds. just a correction
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.