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Update: Lay, Freeman Defense Fund Surpasses $16,000
August 12, 2009
The criminal defense fund for Frank Lay and Robert Freemen continues to grow.
Lay, the Pace High School principal, and Freeman, Pace athletic director, face federal criminal charges for praying before a meal at a field house dedication despite an order against prayer in Santa Rosa County Schools.
When NorthEscambia.com ran a story (click here to read) Monday morning about the criminal defense fund, the balance was $6,454.35. By Wednesday afternoon, the fund had grown to $16,156.65.
“Here we are in America. A 30+ year worker in the public school system is going to court in September for asking a blessing before a meal on school grounds. I am telling you this is not America,” Olive Baptist Church Pastor Ted Traylor wrote on his blog. “This is not what the forefathers risked all for. This is not what young men and women bled for defending this country. To quote the Commander in Chief on another issue: this is acting stupidly.”
Traylor said he plans to support the defense fund, and he is encouraging members of his church, the largest Southern Baptist Church in Pensacola, to do the same.
A web site set up for the two men, layfreemandefense.com, asks supporters to make donations to the Lay and Freeman Defense Fund at any First National Bank of Florida. The site is also selling t-shirts for $10.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in federal court almost a year ago against the Santa Rosa School District, Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and then-Santa Rosa Superintendent John Rogers. The suit alleged that Santa Rosa County Schools “persistently and persuasively promote their personal religious beliefs in the public schools and at school events”.
A federal court order earlier this year prohibited, among other things, any prayer in schools, “reading from a sacred text”, “calling upon a deity to offer guidance, assistance or a blessing” and religious services such as baccalaureate services. There are circumstances were student-led prayers are permissible, but school employees are prohibited to participate in the prayer, even prohibited from “a posture or manner that is likely to be perceived as an endorsement of prayer, e.g. bowing their heads, kneeling or folding their hands”.
Comments
15 Responses to “Update: Lay, Freeman Defense Fund Surpasses $16,000”
Dear Mr. Freeman and Mr. Lay,
I will be praying for both of you. You are both good men. God bless both of you.
I cried as I wrote my little check. How far down we’ve come since this:
While encamped on the banks of a river, Washington was approached by Delaware Indian chiefs who desired that their youth be trained in American schools. In Washington’s response, he first told them that “Congress… will look on them as on their own children.” [4] That is, we would train their children as if they were our own. He then commended the chiefs for their decision:
You do well to wish to learn our arts and our ways of life and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention. [4]
According to George Washington, what students would learn in American schools “above all” was “the religion of Jesus Christ.”
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-g011.html
This is crazy!!!!! Do we not have BETTER issues to tend to! I was told that the person that reported Mr. Lay was a CHRISTIAN ! They just thought that they needed to do the right thing! Well, that was not the right thing to do. I hope that this person’s heart lays very heavy for the action that they have taken in this issue! This person needs to take a long hard look at whats in there heart. Is this really a action of God’s child or not ? Mr. Lay and family hang in there ! Our prayers are with you! GOD TAKES CARE OF HIS OWN!!!
I agree with( iknowit), two children have taken a lot away from our children. I just say send those two children to some foreign country where children have no rights and let them know what freedom is. They would not have the chance to turn thousands of lives up side down. The little worms would be silenced. What has happened to the majority rule! It looks like the minority are the rulers of America . I just feel sorry for Mr Lay and the other people involved. The ACLU NEEDS TO LEAVE MILTON, PACE ALONE go find something in California to mess up. Oh Wait they have already messed them up.
The court order said not to lead prayers at school functions. That is what he is in trouble for. I assume when you pray over your food at work you don’t get up in front of everybody ask then to bow their head then begain speeking. If he would have prayed on his own over his food the Judge would not have invited him down to his court room.
HE DID NOT LEAD KIDS IN A PRAYER!!! Why can’t people understand that this is NOT the argument here!! He asked someone to say a prayer over a meal when only ADULTS were present. Nobody is saying that students, or anyone else, should be forced to pray. THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE!!! I, and most Christians, agree that no one should be forced into religious ceremonies that they are uncomfortable with. The issue, at least to me, is that EVERYONE should share the same rights under the Constitution, whether you are a government employee or not. If his religion calls for him to say grace over his food, then why can’t he do it where he is employed, as long as he is not forcing others to do it? I say grace over my food when I’m at work, I’m not trying to force others to do it, so leave me alone. Learn what the argument is before you join in!
Can anyone reading this forum explain this “double standard” to me? Presidents of the United States, Supreme Court Judges, etc. are sworn in with their hands on the Bible, ending with: so help me God. This is done in front of millions of people, without concern of offending atheists, buddhists, etc. Why is it legal in this setting to call on God as a higher power for help and assistance, but the average person cannot do so?
ive listened to several segments of this story on FOX NEWS…from what ive gathered, one of the gentlemen was merely asked to say the blessing before a meal…the group gathering consisted of adults…not students….the ACLU will look for any minuscule reason to take someone to court in order to attempt to stifle our freedoms to practice our Christian religion …i believe that one of their primary missions in life is to suppress ANY public expression or discussion of God, Jesus or the Christian religion, in general…
So when the Hindu or Wiccan teachers and administrators start leading your children in prayers to their gods in your public schools, this will not be a problem for anyone, right?
Wrong.
Y’all know that would be a problem. So leading kids in Christian prayers is just as much of a problem, as the government isn’t authorized to promote ANY religion. Note carefully that while at the public school, on ‘company time’ as it were, teachers ARE the government.
“The ‘establishment of religion’ clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the Federal Government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. ” (Supreme Court – /Everson/)
N_J
Frank Lay should never have signed the order against prayer in schools, if he didn’t intend to stop. Has he said why he signed it when he is convinced that he should be able to pray and have his (and only his) religion in his school? Maybe I could understand his actions if he had refused to sign the order, but I can’t condone him doing it the way he did.
Everyone is entitled to his religious opinions (or lack of) , but not in the schools.
Take your children to church to learn of your beliefs, show them by example in your home, but let them go to school to get an education.
Frank Lay has put too much tention and distraction in the schools.
It is time to get back to school to learn, not be side tracked by all this craziness.
Yes our constitution say we have free speech. The constitution gives the citizens the right of free speach not the government. At school the teachers are the government and don’t have free speech rights. Another way of looking at it is the person you work for can control your speech at work while doing company business.
Our Constitution says we have freedom of speech. Praying is not pushing your religion on other people. In the south, we are taught to thank God for everything we have. He is the reason for it. If you don’t want to pray, don’t do it. I personally think this lawsuit is ridiculous. They did not hurt anyone by praying. I realize there are people out there who don’t believe in God but there are a lot more who do. We are going against everything we believe and have been taught so we won’t offend anyone. I don’t think they did anything wrong and I will support them all the way.
Right on Frank Lay, Keep the faith. We will be persecuted for his names sake.
I have always known you to be an upstanding and outstanding principal.
May God bless you and Santa Rosa county .
I can’t believe this crap, I went to school there back in 95. I was never a die hard Christian, but this is rediculous, I can’t believe they are making such a big deal…this is more like religious persecution. Where is our religious freedom?
Time to make a new America
I stand behind them 100% plus!!!!!! God help the ones who have caused us this grief, as I would NOT be in thier shoes for a million dollars come judgment time.