Thursday, August 13, 2009

Luncheon Prayer Brings Criminal Charges

In Santa Rosa County, Florida, school principal Frank Lay and Athletic Director Robert Freeman could go to jail for a prayer over a meal at an appreciation luncheon with booster club members and other adults.

The hullabaloo began when the ACLU filed a lawsuit last year against Santa Rosa County schools over the prayer in a classic bullying tactic to complete the secular/humanistic goal to kill God in the public square, and eliminate him from American Life altogether. Then, the ACLU turned its sights on individuals, and made a move against Lay and Freeman.

Did the school employees force the people at the luncheon to join in the prayer? Were there people going around to ensure everyone's head was bowed? Were the doors locked to block escape from the prayer?

No, of course not. If there was anyone who wasn't hip with the prayer, they had every opportunity to not participate.

Hardly a case of the state establishing religion, or requiring people to participate.

The order by a federal judge to an overly broad court order that banned any prayer or religious activities by school employees before, during, or after school is clearly unconstitutional. Worse, U.S. District Court Judge Casey Rodgers criminal contempt proceedings and referral of the case to the U.S. Attorney's office was based solely on the ACLU's allegations, and no other evidence was reviewed.

As a result, a pair of school employees will face a federal court with criminal contempt charges and could serve jail time in a federal prison for uttering a prayer at a luncheon.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Document tells Pace High officials to answer to criminal charges - Pensacola News Journal

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