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Graduating Class Protests Consent Decree With Lord's Prayer

By Howard M. Friedman

In early May, a Florida federal district court approved a consent decree in Doe v. School Board for Santa Rosa County, Florida which among other things enjoined school officials from authorizing or including prayers as part of school events, including graduation ceremonies. (See prior posting.) As a result, according to yesterday's Florida Baptist Witness, two previously scheduled student speakers for Pace High School's commencement ceremonies last week were removed from the program, apparently because they intended to offer religious remarks. Monday's Louisville Christian Examiner reports that at the commencement ceremonies, the entire Pace High graduating class protested. Many students wore crosses on their mortar boards, and when the Principal asked everyone at the ceremony to be seated, the graduating class remained standing and recited the Lord?s Prayer. Pace school principal Frank Lay said he is proud of the maturity and kindness seniors displayed in their response.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on June 10, 2009 (boomark / email).