Valedictorian fights judge's ban on graduation prayer

[defendandprotect]

Valedictorian fights judge's ban on graduation prayer

Reuters, San Antonio, TX -
EXCEPTS ONLY --


"After all that I've been taught about the freedoms of speech, expression and religion in our country, I am disappointed that my liberties are being infringed upon by this court's ruling to censor my speech," Hildenbrand said at a press conference at the Alamo.

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ruled on Tuesday that the Medina Valley School District may not proceed with plans to include an invocation or benediction at the ceremony, saying that doing so would make it sound like the school is "sponsoring a religion."

He said student speakers may reference God in their remarks.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110602/us_nm/us_prayer_graduation_texas



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Charge is that this is a purging of God from the public square --

while simultaneously pushing court to give more ground to agnostic and atheistic views --

Further, citing prayer in Congress to God as validation -- and suggesting that this

ruling would permit a student to honor Muslim God but not the Christian God.


Our guarantee of freedom of thought, expression, freedom of personal conscience and

free thought are all dependent upon and guaranteed by the Separation of Church & State.

[Fumesucker]

1. Matthew 6:

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

[defendandprotect]

4. If organized patriarchal religion can't get public schools to accept their all-male god ....

it will mean a lot of future members and $$$$$$$$$$$ down the drain --

They need kids to hear some chatter about "god" on government property --

which gives a sense of authentication for male-supremacist religion.


But I do agree with the advice -- and wish that those who give charity would also

follow that rule and be anonymous!!


:)

[saras]

6. +1000

[Gman]

2. Fred Biery is a Clinton appointee

and a good Democrat, when he was able to participate.

[ergot]

3. I've never quite figured out how an omnipotent deity can be barred from any place he or she

wants to be, by mere humans...

[ejpoeta]

5. i notice when people talk about infringing on THEIR rights to speech

they seem to forget that someone else's rights are being infringed by their pushing their god on them in a public school.

[Javaman]

7. This Valedictorian needs to go back to school. nt