School Prayer Bill Clears First Hurdle

April 15, 2011

A bill permitting prayers at school events such as graduations or assemblies cleared the Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee on a unanimous vote Thursday.

The bill sponsored by Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando allows school districts to adopt policies regarding the “delivery of inspirational messages, including prayers” at graduation ceremonies or other “noncompulsory student assemblies.”

Only students could deliver the prayers and the language must be nonsectarian, the bill says.

David Barkey, an attorney with the Anti-Defamation League, said the specificity of the bill, including the use of the word “prayer” violates state and federal constitutional requirements that prohibit the endorsement of one religious philosophy by the government. And by stipulating what can be said in a prayer, that would require school involvement to police it, Barkey said.

Even with the nod from the Senate committee, the bill’s future is murky. A similar bill in the House has not yet been heard by a single committee.

By The News Service of Florida

Comments

7 Responses to “School Prayer Bill Clears First Hurdle”

  1. David Huie Green on April 17th, 2011 4:36 pm

    REGARDING:
    ” the language must be nonsectarian”
    &
    “God help us, Amen”

    Insufficiently nonsectarian. After all it uses the name “God” which a Jehovah’s Witness and a Muslim–among many different sects–would agree was unacceptable since it‘s not the name THEY use. It also uses the word “Amen” which usage is limited to Jews and Christians, leaving out all the other sects.

    Any restrictions on manner of worship are restrictions on practice of religion. Those restrictions are wrong (also unconstitutional since they involve “law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereo;”) and bound to create problems. It doesn’t matter if we agree or disagree with how others are doing it, ’tain’t none of our business.

    But we will insist on making it our business….

    David prophesying problems

  2. jp on April 15th, 2011 10:51 am

    “Nonsectarian”? How can anyone of any faith that truely believes his, or her, con-
    viction to that particular faith are based on actual fact pray a “nonsectarian” prayer?
    How can one pray a prayer from the heart that pleases all religious beliefs? It very
    simply cannot be done. This appeals to only the “politically correct” that have no
    tollarance for any belief other than their own. What is that belief? GOD only knows!

  3. george on April 15th, 2011 9:41 am

    Who are they trying to kid? Public prayer is proselytizing. That’s why they reject moments of silence – it’s not as effective.

  4. Andrae Pope on April 15th, 2011 9:25 am

    People should have the right to pray anywhere and at any time they feel need.

  5. huh on April 15th, 2011 8:24 am

    Separation of church and state, I am 100% positive that if someone decided to lead in Muslim prayer people would stand on their heads about it and want prayer out of school functions

    I dont see why people can’t just pray to themselves, you can do that all day everyday all you want. No need to broadcast it everywhere you go

  6. Berni on April 15th, 2011 6:07 am

    More religions than christianity use the word “prayer”. So does that mean no religion can “pray” according to this debate? It is my opinion that there are many more constructive ways to use the money that is being spent on this insanity. Use the money to put back into the classrooms so that it will benefit all students. The money spent already for this could have paid for several programs and teacher salaries. I agree that school is not the place for promotion of any religion. The home is where that should take place since it is a personal issue. The ones screaming the loudest are probably the ones who need to take a look at what is going on in their own backyard!!!

  7. Neighbor on April 15th, 2011 6:05 am

    How about … “God help us, Amen”

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News