Mississippi lawmakers have passed legislation that would legalize student-led prayer in the state's public schools, the New American website reports today (March 12, 2013).
The bill -- which Gov. Phil Bryant is expected to sign into law -- would also allow students to talk about their faith in the classroom and organize school Bible clubs, as well as pray at football games, graduation ceremonies, and during morning announcements.
Sponsors of the bill said that secular groups have intimidated and confused school administrators about the legality of religious expression in schools, and the law is meant to bring clarity. According to those on both sides of the issue, organized school prayer remains widespread in Mississippi -- which was rated the most religious state in America in a recent independent survey -- despite opponents' efforts to curtail it.
The bill's proponents insist it will not force students to pray, but will enable them to do so voluntarily. But Bear Atwood -- director of Mississippi's American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) chapter -- argued that students who do not wish to pray would still be a "captive audience."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment