Florida Senate committee passes bill allowing student-led prayer

[rug]

By Kathleen Haughney, Sun Sentinel
8:27 p.m. EDT, November 2, 2011

TALLAHASSEE— A panel of Florida lawmakers Wednesday advanced controversial school prayer legislation that would allow local school boards to permit student-led prayers at school events such as graduation, football games or school dances.

"It is not intended to advance or endorse any religious belief," said Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, a Baptist.

But the bill drew fierce opposition from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Anti Defamation League, who argued that it would force teenagers to choose between high-school activities and their religious values.

Said David Barkey, an ADL lawyer: "State sponsored school prayer is unfair and inappropriate because our public schools are for people of all faiths."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/elections/fl-school-prayer-bill-considered-20111102,0,11525.story

[beam me up scottie]

1. "It is not intended to advance or endorse any religious belief," said Sen. Gary Siplin...a baptist"

Lies make the baby Jesus cry, Gary.

[NMMNG]

2. "It is not intended to advance or endorse any religious belief,"

Right. There are bound to be thousands of prayers to Allah, Zeus, Satan and FSM on the football fields and graduation podiums across Florida. :eyes:

[beam me up scottie]

3. And I'm sure that the christian students won't use their privilege to target glbt kids.

Way to go Florida.

[NMMNG]

4. Oh, but we can't fault Christians for acting on their "deeply held religious beliefs"

Those LGBT kids just need to suck it up and stop whining.

[humblebum]

5. And this is "State sponsored school prayer " how? nt

More like student sponsored. If the school administration isn't sponsoring it, the the state most certainly is not. Religious speech is free speech just like any other type.

[beam me up scottie]

6. What happens when christian students use the opportunity to advocate praying the gay away?

Or broadcast their anti-choice agenda?

[xfundy]

7. So that means a religious student can lead the school in prayers

to Allah? To Satan? To the FSM?

Because to disallow this would infringe upon religious freedom of speech, right? And who decides? Majority vote? Mob rule?


Why not just have the schools allow all religions to pray at events, with regular rotation to allow other religions a chance?

[LAGC]

9. It's a school-sanctioned gathering, with a captive audience.

It's not right to force religious minorities to choose between school-organized events like graduation and missing out, or being preached at while they obligatorily attend. If the religious want to organize a prayer, they can do it in a private ceremony in a church off school grounds.

Hope the ACLU sues the fuck out of Florida for choosing to trample all over the First Amendment.

[Deep13]

8. I ask for equal time to explain why religious beliefs are dangerous. nt