Nothing like that good old state religion
First Amendment Outrage
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10.23.01
Texas Gov. Rick Perry is running for election and has decided to make legalizing official school prayer a campaign issue.
“From my personal perspective, I think that a prayer life and a country that respects a higher being, our God, is a stronger country. I believe that, and I think the vast majority of the people in Texas and in this country believe that,” Perry said.
He’s allowed to believe that, but not everyone has that same “personal perspective” or should have to. That’s the great thing about personal perspectives — they’re personal, and mine don’t have to be like yours. Nor should you be compelled to act in accordance with mine.
Perry apparently is confused about a very important truth concerning school prayer: He thinks it’s illegal, when in fact it’s legal. Students can pray at school, on their own and in groups. They can gather to pray around the flagpole or elsewhere in school buildings and on school grounds. They can have religious clubs. They can bring their Bibles or other sacred books to school. All legal.
What isn’t legal is organized, school-sponsored, officially directed prayer — such as in assemblies and classes where attendance is required.
In Engel v. Vitale (1962) the U.S. Supreme Court made this distinction clear: State-sponsored prayer is precisely what the establishment clause of the First Amendment was written to prevent. So why is this so hard for some people to accept?
“I happen to think we all pray to the same God,” Perry said.
That’s news to those who pray to other gods, or no God, or who don’t want to be made to pray in a certain way even if it is to the God they worship. None of this officially dictated theology has any business in public schools.
Unfortunately, the two Democrats vying to challenge Perry, a Republican, in the 2002 gubernatorial election say they, too, favor some sort of Texas-league official school religion.
It would be a true public service if all three gubernatorial candidates took the trouble to learn the many ways in which students can pray and otherwise proclaim their religious faith in school. They could tell voters that keeping students free of imposed religion does not mean that schools must be religion-free zones.
That would be a true education.
Original story
Texas governor: Legalize prayer in public schools
Rick Perry made statement after praying with students at middle school assembly; People for the American Way spokesman says ‘captive-audience prayer’ was illegal.
10.22.01
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