Court: Student prayers OK at school board meetings [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Kevin Mcgill, Associated Press Updated 6:18 pm, Monday, March 20, 2017



NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Texas school board can open its meetings with student-led public prayers without running afoul of the Constitution's prohibition against government-established religion, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.

The ruling by a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld a lower court ruling dismissing a lawsuit against the Birdville Independent School District. The suit was filed by the American Humanist Association and a graduate of Birdville High School.

The panel said student-led prayers for legislative bodies differ from unconstitutional prayers in public schools.

The panel noted a 2014 Supreme Court ruling allowing prayers at a town council meeting in Greece, New York, and said the prayers at the Birdville school board fall under that "legislative prayer exception."








Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Court-Student-prayers-OK-at-school-board-meetings-11015425.php

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