Federal Court Upholds Texas Moment of Silence Law
We read:
“Texas schoolchildren will continue to pray or meditate during a daily minute of silence after a federal court threw out a challenge to the state law. The ruling issued Thursday stems from a complaint by a North Texas couple who say one of their children was told by an elementary school teacher to keep quiet because the minute is a “time for prayer.”
The 2003 law allows children to “reflect, pray, meditate or engage in any other silent activities” for one minute at the beginning of each school day.
U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn upheld the constitutionality of the law, concluding that “the primary effect of the statute is to institute a moment of silence, not to advance or inhibit religion.”
Lisa Graybill, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said even though Lynn found the language of the law neutral on religion, “we know that that intent (to put prayer back in school) is manifest in school districts across the state. We receive those kinds of complaints on a constant basis.”
Posted by John Ray
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Posted by JonJayRay on January 6, 2008 8:05 am
» Filed Under 1st Amendment, ACLU, Church And State, News
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