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In a letter written letter to officials at Bastrop High School, three organizations have outlined steps it feels should be taken to correct problems arising from prayers offered at the school’s May 19 graduation.
In a joint statement issued by the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and state and Freedom From Religion Foundation, the groups state they are “deeply troubled” by the issue arising from a complaint lodged by an atheist graduate who objected to prayer being included in the ceremonies.
After the complaint was received May 17, Morehouse Parish School System attorney Steve Katz advised school officials to remove what was to have been a clergy-led prayer from the program. When the program was reprinted, it showed a moment of silence to be led by graduating senior Laci Mattice.
Just prior to the start of the ceremony, BHS principal Stacey Pullen said she reminded Mattice that the program called for a moment of silence.
After stating she respected the beliefs of others, Mattice said she felt compelled to give thanks to God for the blessings bestowed on her class. Mattice then invited her classmates to join her in reciting “The Lord’s Prayer.”
In its letter, the organizations state the moment of silence on the program should have been led by a school official, “... which would have ensured that the opportunity was not abused ...”
“Not surprisingly, the student chose to deliver the Lord’s Prayer - while school officials sat idly by,” the statement reads.
The statement outlines action the groups feel would end “The school system’s long-standing disregard for constitutional norms,” which “has predictably bred a culture of noncompliance.” The statement requests that the school system:
- Issue a statement to he community explaining the system’s legal duty to enforce legal prohibitions on prayer at graduation.
- Issue an apology to the student who complained, who the groups state “should have been honored for protecting a precious constitutional principal.”
- Consider discipline against Mattice.
- Have school officials rather than students lead the moment of silence at future graduations to ensure they “are not exploited to present religious messages.”
Morehouse Parish Schools Superintendent Tom Thrower said he forwarded a copy of the statement to Katz and is waiting to see what actions he recommends the system take.
ACLU of Louisiana executive director Marjorie Esman would not say if the organizations planned any action against the school system if they didn’t implement the suggestions they offered.
In a letter written letter to officials at Bastrop High School, three organizations have outlined steps it feels should be taken to correct problems arising from prayers offered at the school’s May 19 graduation.
In a joint statement issued by the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and state and Freedom From Religion Foundation, the groups state they are “deeply troubled” by the issue arising from a complaint lodged by an atheist graduate who objected to prayer being included in the ceremonies.
After the complaint was received May 17, Morehouse Parish School System attorney Steve Katz advised school officials to remove what was to have been a clergy-led prayer from the program. When the program was reprinted, it showed a moment of silence to be led by graduating senior Laci Mattice.
Just prior to the start of the ceremony, BHS principal Stacey Pullen said she reminded Mattice that the program called for a moment of silence.
After stating she respected the beliefs of others, Mattice said she felt compelled to give thanks to God for the blessings bestowed on her class. Mattice then invited her classmates to join her in reciting “The Lord’s Prayer.”
In its letter, the organizations state the moment of silence on the program should have been led by a school official, “... which would have ensured that the opportunity was not abused ...”
“Not surprisingly, the student chose to deliver the Lord’s Prayer - while school officials sat idly by,” the statement reads.
The statement outlines action the groups feel would end “The school system’s long-standing disregard for constitutional norms,” which “has predictably bred a culture of noncompliance.” The statement requests that the school system:
- Issue a statement to he community explaining the system’s legal duty to enforce legal prohibitions on prayer at graduation.
- Issue an apology to the student who complained, who the groups state “should have been honored for protecting a precious constitutional principal.”
- Consider discipline against Mattice.
- Have school officials rather than students lead the moment of silence at future graduations to ensure they “are not exploited to present religious messages.”
Morehouse Parish Schools Superintendent Tom Thrower said he forwarded a copy of the statement to Katz and is waiting to see what actions he recommends the system take.
ACLU of Louisiana executive director Marjorie Esman would not say if the organizations planned any action against the school system if they didn’t implement the suggestions they offered.
“That’s a question we’ll never answer because we’ll never disclose our strategy,” Esman said. “The world will find out what we’ll do when we do it.”
Ayesha Khan, legal director for Americans United for Separation of Church and State left the door open for possible legal action against the school and school system.
"I'm not in a position to say we will or won't," Kahn said. "We can't make a deicision until we know how the school district responds. But there is a definite possibiity they could be facing legal actions.
NOTE: Scroll back to the top right-hand side of the page to view the statement sent to school officials.
