Comments on: Coach Banned From Joining Student Prayers

Federal Court Rules Kneeling And Head-Bowing Is Endorsement Of Religion, Not Free Speech

[bobpcoll--2008]

praying in public is not the issue, her.....the issue is that a "teacher" may not support or hinder the expression of a religious belief while engaged in a school activity (public).

[ago5675]

No one at any time can tell us not to pray. I can stand with my eyes wide open and pray. How many of you have ever been really scared and cried out "God help me" or similar pleadings? Have you never prayed for the safety or healing of a child or loved one? I feel ashamed that our wonderful nation has become so fearful of displaying the one thing that made us great. Our beliefs and prayer are the only things that are keeping us.....

[ladyoamerica]

I don''t pray in public, but no law should prevent me from doing so. Freedom of Religion is a constitutonal right which they are violating by telling this coach he can not bow his head and pray.

[bobpcoll--2008]

...for example....you state that it violates his rights of free speech. Based upon that logic, should be allowed to openly critcisize a religion; to his students?

[bobpcoll--2008]

LadyofAmerica......your response is exactly why we have "civil laws" and a Court system to interpret the Constitution.

[mike71067]

Whatever happened to Freedom of Religion? The United States is going down the toilet.

[ladyoamerica]

"The judges agreed that the East Brunswick Board of Education''s policy barring school staff from joining in student-led prayer was constitutional."

Bullkrap, that directly violates Freedom of Religion! If I was that coach I would sue and take it to the Supreme court! Frak it, I think I am still going to file a protest regardless! This is complete BS. Protect the Muslims, Buddhists and every other religion and non-religion except the Christians! Down-play and try to get laws against Christians right of Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech. They are telling this coach he isn''t allowed to pray! That is complete BS! That VIOLATES the constitutional right of Freedom of Religion!

[bobpcoll--2008]

RJS: Very well stated!

[rjs1955]

The problem in reality is not what the coach did, which exceeds no reasonable persons definition of propriety. The problem is what happens if the courts do not act at this stage of the issue. Some students would feel compelled to participate, or the coach would venture further into more than just leading a prayer, or a student who dod not participate might have a bad game and others would blame their lack of participation for their performance. Most believers in any religion believe that there is a point at which they no longer have a responsibility to obey the law of the land in conflict with their beliefs (and I have my limits, too). The Mormon Church has never expunged their Doctrines and Covenants of the guidelines and rules for allowing plural marriage, or polygymy/polygyny. Why? Because even though they made it illegal in 1890 and 1904, much of their reasoning was based on another part of their Doctrines and Covenants which require them to obey the civil law of the land. Now, should the civil law of the land ever ALLOW plural marriage again..., they are all set up to jump right back into that game in a heartbeat. Do not think for one second that the LDS Church has, in its heart, ever truly repudiated plural marriage, and most coaches are more, not less likely to take all the religious leash that thay can with their religious views.

[mrmazerati]

I agree with Walker1209. It''s a hypertechnicality. Might be legally correct, but it still comes off as mean-spirited.