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Florida Principal, Athletic Director Could Go to Jail for Prayer Before Lunch

Discussion in 'News & Current Events' started by Revmitchell, Aug 16, 2009.

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  1. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    A principal and an athletic director in Florida could be charged with crimes and spend six months in jail after they prayed before a meal at a school event, the Washington Times reported.

    Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and athletic director Robert Freeman will go on trial in federal district court Sept. 17. They're accused of violating the conditions of a lawsuit settlement reached last year with the American Civil Liberties Union, according to the Times.

    Local pastors and some students and teachers are outraged that Lay and Freeman face criminal charges, and they have protested during graduation ceremonies, the newspaper said.

    "I have been defending religious freedom issues for 22 years, and I've never had to defend somebody who has been charged criminally for praying," said Mathew Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, the Christian-based legal group that is defending the two school officials.

    More Here
     
  2. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    we're now jailing people for praying, what do we expect when we've been declared a muslim nation.
     
  3. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Jailed for breaking the terms of the settlement.. Just shows that we should be careful to what we agree to.
     
  4. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    They were not jailed for praying. Read again.
     
  5. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    I did. They were jailed for praying. Period.
     
  6. Aaron

    Aaron Member
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    Yeah, neither was Daniel.
     
  7. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    when are you going to stop defending attacks on christianity
     
  8. just-want-peace

    just-want-peace Well-Known Member
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    This IS a rhetorical question, is it not????:smilewinkgrin::smilewinkgrin:
     
  9. RAdam

    RAdam New Member

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    It's sad when people place political idealogy above Jesus Christ and His cause.
     
  10. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    When will you take a class in reading comprehension? I neither defended nor advocated anything. It was a simple statement of fact. These guys violated a settlement. They were NOT charged with praying. THAT is the issue.
     
  11. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    Maybe they should have used a prayer rug.

    We shouldn't be surprised.

    2 Timothy 3
    12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.​


    HankD
     
  12. RAdam

    RAdam New Member

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    And again people have brought up Daniel's situation. The authorities didn't attempt to have Daniel killed because he prayed, but because he violated a law enacted by the King. The King's law, however, violated the command of God. The law that he violated dealt with prayer. The circumstances are similar here.
     
  13. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    This isn't an issue of a "law of a king", this is an issue of them entering into a settlement agreement, and then violating that agreement. Note that the story says they are accused of "violating the conditions of a lawsuit settlement reached last year".

    That issue aside, this is a public school. As a Christian parent, I don't want a public school engaging in endorsed religious activities, even if those religious activities coincide with my own faith. That act takes the power of religious instruction away from me, where it belongs.
     
  14. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    I remember seeing a teenager in our youth group wearing one of those "message" shirts.

    It said "I prayed in school, I'm a menace to society".

    I also remember as a youth in Boston being required not only to pray in public school, but to sing a hymn as well (Holy, Holy, Holy was out teacher's favorite).


    HankD
     
  15. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    Yes and as a Christian parents we should also understand that public schools today are committed to a secular humanism point of view.

    Which is evident in the content of the curiccula teaching tools RE: Godless evolution, human sexuality, etc, etc...

    Do you have power over those things?

    HankD
     
  16. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    The issue of secular humanism is a different topic altogether. On THIS topic, I can't imagine why a Christian parent would be comfortable with the idea of a public school engaging in endorsed religious activities, even if those religious activities coincide with your own faith.
     
  17. windcatcher

    windcatcher New Member

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    Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............. I never ever considered that saying grace at the table turned it into an endorsement of religious activity.

    While it is an individual relational thing between a person and his God..... here in the south...... it is also a very customary tradition where groups of people with whatever community, sports, meeting ...... just whatever ...... brings them together to eat at a table. It is neither intended to offend anyone nor is it designed to proselytze anyone.


    As for 'the law"....... It was a temporary court injunction.... agreed to by the school board. So..... while the court may consider a contempt..... since when does a court make criminal law? (Never mind..... we are living already in the US Socialists Republic of States United..... and every thing is turned upside down. Courts and Law and Government can do whatever it pleases as it has long separated itself from the citizen.... bit by bit ..... while it lulled us into thinking we still were in control.)
    ================

    Also ........
    I want to know.....

    What about the contempt this present administration has for us:
    Pelosie refers to citizens as Nazis and astroturf.
    The President starts a 'rat out' line for citizens to report tales, other citizens and emails.
    The President and his advisors tells us and the Congress lies.... and then do the very things they said they wouldn't do:
    ........ A bailout for GM, and firing its CEO, promising us 'its to preserve jobs BUT where is GM now?.... in China and South AM. .......the bailout helped them move.
    .........Chrysler, bailout, supposed to help save company.... government gave it to Fiat.... where now? Plant is overseas... and Chryslers will be shipped in.
    .........Banks bailed out..... Why? to solve solvency problems and to bring new credit back on line for more jobs in America. Instead, Banks are being paid interest NOT to loan money..... so credit is reduced or unavailable to those who are credit worthy, and companies whos cyclical products depended upon temporary available credit can't get it. But..... GUESS WHAT..... recently the government has started encouraging the banks to approve more loans for borderline qualifiers... AGAIN! The same darn stuff that got us into this mess (in part) to begin with..... And what were those loans called? If you know or guessed 'sub-prime' you win!

    And the President and his health care thingy......... It is stupid and playing the people as stupid......
    He has a plan..... a draft of ideas ..... which he's presented before the people...... but the Congress doesn't have a bill. People are getting their panties in a wad over concerns in the plan.... and voicing their outrage at various aspects of it..... particularly when some official or MC start off telling the group what they are supposed to think without first listening to really hear what they want and don't want. I mean..... if a representative or senator wants to speak..... publish or advertise their message on t.v. or radio.... but IF THEY REALLY MEAN TO MEET THE PUBLIC AND GIVE IT INPUT.... then call it a townhall and go prepared to listen a lot..... take notes, respond to questions..... and return to Washington with knowledge of what the people want and don't want.
    The President has already told the country that this health care reform will pass. However way he gets it through.... whatever bribes or threats he makes..... I have little doubt that the Congress will cowar, pass the bill, which is either already prepared to introduce or will be by the time they get back..... and they will lie to us with reassurances that 'they have preserved our right of choice between public and private' and that the so called 'death panel' which really was a panel charged with resticting unnecessary medical charges..... with the power to ration, allow or deny coverage, and without a process for appeal or a power given to the patient to hold them or medical providers responsible for their decisions.

    Our congressmen will pass it either willingly...... or under threat and duress which we may never know....... and some people will clap and say to us who opposed.... see.... that and that and that..... isn't even in this bill..... and 'they' will go their sweet way leading us all and their own progeney to the doom...... that a congress which can write a bill today and promise us that it is just and fair..... can alter the bill tomorrow when it realizes it bit off more than it could provide...... and its too late to recall a service on which people depend.

    Where is the ACLU in all this...... fighting against two men and a woman who wanted to bless their food before they ate.... and the ACLU is afraid someone may be corrupted into getting religion. The woman, a district clerk, asked her husband, not an employee of the school district, to lead in prayer at a Employee of the Year banquet on Feb 20. At a Jan 28 luncheon for supporters of the new fieldhouse, Principal Lay requested Freeman, the athletic director, to bless the food. Folks....... the people attending these events were adults... If it offended them so much then who shut up their mouths.......???????? Related to school? yes. A school function? No.

    Mostly, I'm concerned with what this is telling our children...... if these folks get much more than a brief slap around.... Does it pay to have principals? Does it pay to stand on them and carry some heat for them? Are rights something we only have in the closet as Christians....... but all others including Gays and faggots can live openly and mock us all? What was their crime...... that they didn't obey the court.... How so? Does the court have the right to tell individuals to shut their mouth? Free speech..... any freedom is protected by the constitution from infringement..... : There is no such thing as having liberty and then being bound from using it at the same time.

    Please, those of you who can understand...... pray for these good people. We have a very nice community and I hold the blessings of God through such principaled leaders as we have in our local schools as being one of the reasons.
     
  18. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Odd it needs explanation.
     
  19. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    A faith that hasn't been tested can't be trusted. -- Dr. Adrian Rogers
     
  20. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    I suspect you would not give the same consideration to a Muslim teacher leading students in prayer at lunch. But this isn't a case of a teacher simply praying before a meal at lunch. If you read all the realted stories regarding this incident, it's a matter of numerous school staff actively displaying their religion in an excessively boastful manner. Scripturally, those folks are akin to pharisees. Legally, they very likely violated Amendment I of the Constitution. It's Christians like these that make it more difficult for the rest of us to engage in genuine faith, and we should be admonishing them righteously, not just defenging them blindly.
     
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