High School Administrators Face Jail Time For Saying Grace

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by Lamar Tyler | on August 18th, 2009 | 5 comments

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From CNN.com:

Two Florida school administrators face contempt charges and possible prison time for saying a prayer at a school luncheon.

Frank Lay, principal of Pace High School, and Athletic Director Robert Freeman are accused of violating a consent decree banning employees of Santa Rosa County schools from endorsing religion.

They face a non-jury trial September 17 before U.S. District Judge Casey Rodgers. The statute under which they are charged carries a maximum penalty of up to six months in prison, subject to sentencing guidelines.

Attorneys defending Lay and Freeman call it outrageous that the two are being prosecuted for “a simple prayer.” But the American Civil Liberties Union, whose lawsuit led to the consent decree, maintains that students have a right to be free from administrators foisting their religious beliefs on them.

For the full article you can click here….

Should these men face possible jail time for saying a blessing over the food? The event was held mainly for athletic boosters and adults but children who were in the culinary foods program were present because they made and were serving the food. Is the prospect of jail time too harsh of a punishment in this case? Let us know what you think.

About the author

Lamar and Ronnie Tyler are the creators of the award-winning blog BlackandMarriedWithKids.com . They also are behind the Amazon.com bestselling DVDs Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage, You Saved Me and Men Ain’t Boys that explores manhood in the African American community. The Tylers are also the proud parents of four children.

LaKeyshaF

It is absolutely rediculous. Jail time for praying? Some people take the whole seperation of church and state (which the “founders” never actually said) way too far. They intended to protect RELIGION by not having the government control religion. THey did not intend to eradicate religion from private or public life. (Has anyone read the declaration of independance…”endowed by the creator with inalienable rights…”).

This reminds me of the persecution of the Church in Biblical times. It also reminds me of communism. It may sound extreme but in that system religion is not allowed. My Jewish friend from Uzbekistan (a former communist nation) told me that the only way they could practice their religion was in secret in the privacy of their homes. Sounds familiar?

I also feel that this is a personal attack on Christianity. Somehow i doubt that these people would have sent a Muslim woman to jail for wearing a burka in the presence of the students, or someone saying to the crowd to do yoga breathing exercises to relax (yoga is derived from Hinduism/Buddhism/Janism).

Satan is the accusar of the brothern. It is his goal to silence Christians. To make sure the gospel of the saving grace of Jesus Christ does not go forth. If he can get us to keep our “religion” at home or only at church then he believes he can stop the saving of more souls.

This does not mean that instead of doing your job at work you spend all of your time evangelising. It means that your life and character should be a witness to Jesus and that you take every opportunity that presents itself to be a verbal witness to others.

“Please leave your religion at the door when you leave the house because we dont want to feel any conviction or compulsion to change our lives… “
http://harriet-canshesaythat.blogspot.com Harriet

Lakeysha hit the nail on the head when she said, “I also feel that this is a personal attack on Christianity. Somehow i doubt that these people would have sent a Muslim woman to jail for wearing a burka in the presence of the students, or someone saying to the crowd to do yoga breathing exercises to relax (yoga is derived from Hinduism/Buddhism/Janism).”

My thing is, if it’s good for the goose, it’s good for the gander, and if you’re going to take religion out of schools, do it for ALL religions, not just Christianity.

LaKeysha read my thoughts and put them in her commentary. That’s on the money right there!
Anna

When good intentions go bad. Give me a break. This is probably one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard.
Ray

It’s about time religious peoel stopped taking liberties with other peoles kids. They have no rihgt to impose their religious beliefs, practices and ceremonies on impressionable kids without direct parental consent.

This ruling sets an example.
http://antell.com Benjamin Antell

Saying grace, is not about taking liberties over anybody.
Those who don’t want to say grace, don’t have to join in.
To protest agains it, is simply to be rude.

To outlaw prayer is stupid beyond belief.