Canton Public Schools in Massachusetts will no longer allow prayers or religiously themed occurrences to be included in any school ceremony or school-sponsored events, including graduation ceremonies after Atheist organization files complaint.
Last Spring, Rev. John Tamilio III was invited by Canton High School Principal Derek Folan to give an invocation during the graduation ceremony. During the invocation, it was reported that Tomilio called upon a “holy, loving, and most gracious God” to bless the students.
Later on, the FFRF filed a complaint with the school district, after such, Canton Public Schools Superintendent Jennifer Fischer-Mueller informed the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation that “steps have been taken to ensure that there will be no prayers or religious rituals” included as part of any school ceremony or school-sponsored event, including graduation ceremonies.
The FFRF alleges that the Principal’s request to have Rev. Tomilio conduct a prayer at the ceremony is a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Furthermore, their complaint alleges that religious invocation alienates students who are not religious.
“A prayer taking place at a ‘regularly scheduled school-sponsored function conducted on school property’ would lead an objective observer to perceive it as state endorsement of religion,” McNamara stated. “It makes no difference how many students or families want prayer at the graduation ceremony.”
The FFRF regularly files complaints against schools and school districts across the country, and often times they are successful because a school and or school district would rather change their policies than deal with the extremely costly legal fees of a lawsuit.
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
The 1st amendment makes no reference to being free from religion. On the contrary, it clearly states that government is to not to be the establisher of a religion or to mandate that a certain religious practice be followed. It also states that the freedom of speech is not to be abridged. Abridged is defined as being curtailed which is precisely what FFRF has laid it on Massachusetts to do, and it does appear that Massachusetts has followed through with it. So how long are we Christians going to allow these atheist groups to misinterptret the Constitution and rewite it in the process?
exactly
this is a situation where you do what’s right in the site of God regardless of the consequences of what man might do to you. it’s only just begun of what’s coming to faithful christians in america from the world and don’t be surprised when the liberal churches join the world in the persecution of the faithful.
The FFRF should not exist and should be shut down permanently.
Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.