Fox News Defends Prayer Forced By The State

[Angrboda]

Two concerned local citizens informed FFRF that prayer was regularly scheduled at school-sponsored events in the West Branch Local School District. At a varsity basketball game last month at West Branch High School, for instance, a prayer was delivered over the loudspeaker after the national anthem was played. Those in attendance were asked to remain standing for this Christian prayer. Reportedly, prayers were often taking place at sporting events and holiday events in the district, with the principal delivering the prayer or inviting a pastor to do so.

"It is illegal for a public school to sponsor religious messages at school athletic events," FFRF Legal Director Rebecca Markert wrote to West Branch Local School District Superintendent Timothy Saxton. "The Supreme Court has continually struck down school-sponsored prayer in public schools. Moreover, the Supreme Court has specifically struck down invocations given over the loudspeaker at public school athletic events."

Not only was the West Branch Local School District endorsing these prayers by allotting time for them at the start of games, but it was also providing the prayer-giver with the public address system needed to impose these prayers on all students and community members at games, FFRF added. Public school events must be secular to protect the freedom of conscience of all students, it asserted.

FFRF’s halting of Ohio public school prayer proves religion’s divisiveness