Comments on: Suit filed to block public school graduation at church

By: John

John — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 05:05:59 +0000

This is just wrong… I agree with EVERYONE who posted in favor of the lawsuit. You all have excellent points. This reminds me of the Penn. school that tried to get a science teacher to teach “Intelligent Design” (a.k.a., Masked Creationism) in its science class. When I.D. was supressed, Pat Robertson then predicted that they were going to have a drought, or crop failure, or that they would all blow up (one of the three) but of course it didn’t happen.

By: Gerry Fisher

Gerry Fisher — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:36:21 +0000

Use the football field like the rest of us did.

By: LOrion

LOrion — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:45:24 +0000

I hope the nearest PFLAG will demonstrate if not be plaintiffs in the suit! We need others to go too if this farce continues.
Someone post on JTI.

By: Richard in Atlanta

Richard in Atlanta — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:04:04 +0000

The report doesn’t really explain WHY the graduation ceremony is being held at the church. The story also does not describe any efforts short of a lawsuit to resolve the situation. I’m going to give the school the benefit of the doubt on this one and assume thtat church was chosen because of seating capaicity and other non-religous reasons. All that being said, the graduation to be moved to a more inclusive facility. And it ought to be done without a court order being necessary. I don’t think we have the fact available to put anyone’s head on a pike just yet folks.

By: Dave W.

Dave W. — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:54:37 +0000

Rick..the cliche is “could not care less” If someone could care less, they would, which negates your point.

But, even if it is 100% that don’t mind, you are wrong. Court precedent is clear here…you cannot have a taxpayer funded event at a venue like this UNLESS the building is completely cleansed of religious iconography.

this goes to everyone: When you vote, the priest and his staff are not to be on the property and all religious iconography is to be covered up, if your polling place is a church.

This is established case history, all the way up to the Supreme Court. Do not let religious leaders ruin more lives with the tales they spin while innocent people, often bused in by party workers, are forced to hear them.

NO priests standing outside, no crosses visible, no dead Jesuses etc. We are a country with no established religion and our government must keep it this way.

For those of you saying who cares, think about the poor kid not willing to speak up, without the types of parents who know AU, who will have his commencement soured by the memory of that oppressive environment. And yes, it could be a gay kid, so this could be gay news.

By: drewski

drewski — Mon, 11 May 2009 03:35:27 +0000

@Chuey–not all gays present themselves as mouth-breathers deprived of functioning synapses either. Just sayin’.

By: Chuy

Chuy — Mon, 11 May 2009 02:18:35 +0000

What does have to do with gay news? Not all Gays are secular!

By: GrrrlRomeo

GrrrlRomeo — Sun, 10 May 2009 18:39:40 +0000

It is against some people’s religious beliefs to enter a religious building of a religion they don’t practice. The reason people feel uncomfortable is because their right to religious freedom is being violated.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sun, 10 May 2009 16:21:28 +0000

There is no law that prevents a school from holding its graduation in a religious building. Furthermore, is the notion of filing a lawsuit because I feel uncomfortable in an environment could go on forever. Frankly, I think football is barbaric, and I don’t want to go to the football stadium b/c it makes me uncomfortable. Where are we going to have graduation now?

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 10 May 2009 13:11:17 +0000

Is there some reason why the district can’t hold the graduation on the school grounds? If so, this is a completely inappropriate venue o select. It is insensitive to the Muslim students and their families, the Jewish students and their families, the Buddhist students and their families and the like. It is very likely that many members of the school board are also members of the church in question. Seperation of church and state was mainly intended to prevent public establishments from pushing a particular faith. If the district wanted to have members of several faith communities including the one in question, come and give blessings, THAT would be appropriate.