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Show Linda Sits cially those ofone faith, Griffin argues, the governmentis promotingreligion. Private, voluntary prayer is “absolutely legal,” notes Nadine Strossen,president of the American Civil Liberties Union, “but no one can evenbe forced to listen to areligious exercise. The government must be completely neutral when it comes toreligi neither for it nor againstit.” So, although someschools have said pregameprayersfor 90 years, they may i ‘Tk nany be unconstitutional. “There are many PO. me other occasionsforreligious devotion,” 5 Ralonse ediir a. enero ‘6 from Henderson, TX 75653-1687 ‘aga 78 ois Nac. om y fe tes, County, Teas, Jud Disc, White “xcuson Requestonthelowe etdcome ofheontofteenvelope you equst exclusion romthe Cass you mayntlean objection to he esol he proposed settement 2 ‘A. TheFaimess Hearing fe am ies s Wa aiden Cause No, 98-272, Fuse Gaynah anDt aco ays A cacose Tei han ea eae os Re : ih chiecons and oppose wars, “andif that standard se thats Gb Conetee aces, ‘Court, Rusk County, Teas, th Jil Dist 1988, eee lveusatone eon (one - eerae * pray around flagpole whenthey’re walking through metal detectors and havesecurity guards in their halls?” But Griffin counters that even people who support school prayer might feel differently if that prayer endorsed a religion theydid not believein. He says that the Santa Fe students herepresents, whosefamilies filed suit anonymously, were “attacked andbelittled” for their religiousbeliefs andfelt “threatened be: cia cause they wereofa differentreligious faith” than the predominantly Baptist school. Healso notes that a Catholic Santa Fe student, who silently protested hose families filed suit de A is good enoughforpolitical protests, the es samestandard should applyforreligious speech,”hesays.“Theprice of freedom is that you'll hear things you don’t agree with.” Sekulow points out that school violence has students seekingreligion: “Shootings are a regular occurrence. Howcan youtell kids that they can’t Counsel: was te ae feeSocCL Henoeson, TX 75653-1109 State Alen Butler broparancnmtarsetbantnal Renaissance Tower teenies when mostpeople peop: havejust J cometogetherto enjoy a football game?” Jay Sekulow,chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, whohasargued schoolprayer cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, disagrees. Students Can make political speeches Ee AGEs Nomebose One bonito PakCay Ce P.O. Box 1687 says z Strossen. “Religion gl is an issue where feelings run so strongly—whyuse it for st a messagethat can be seen as divisive 1 acess provided in Sacton 7B, above. esr A, SatFR EL Se ret ee ee eRe em ees ete 7m oes and expenses ie. tet Class ‘oes wil nat ; In MaseUenopoe enoane Tovmach alamfr heaving irae, you maycli 800-627-6082. You ray Shewe830am04309m i at wwwSECscom | a studentprayerbefore a football game this fall, was heckled andinsulted. Thefinal decision belongsto the Supreme Court, AnthonyGriffin says heis Satan AoGasAonHoman Gat hoping that the court limits these prayers, sk County while Jay Sekulow asserts,“Evenifthe court were to rule against the students, nothing would stop student-led prayer.” Still, whatever the Supreme Court rules, fetate experts say hard questionswill remain. tee (00NOTCALLTHECOURTORTHE CLERK OFTHECOURT. Mendervon,TX 75853-1007 Says Harvard Divinity’s Laura Nash: “Eachpersonhas to ask, ‘Can I explore myfaith in a way that doesn’t separate me from others?’” we |
