fdf@houxa.UUCP (Franklin Fite) (05/22/85)
Let me start out by saying that I hope this article does not resurrect the school prayer issue, but here goes ... I recently spent a weekend in Indianapolis to attend a relative's high school graduation. He was graduating from a PUBLIC high school, possibly part of the Indianapolis school system, although it may be a suburb school. The night before graduation, there was something called a "Baccalaureate Service" in the school auditorium. This service turned out to be a Christian Church service, complete with readings of the Old and New Testament and a sermon (delivered by a local pastor). The seniors were present in their caps and gowns. (There was no collection). At the graduation itself, Christian prayers were given by the class Valedictorian and Salutatorian (not generic prayers, but prayers thanking Jesus Christ), and the speaker gave a religiously oriented speech. Frankly, I was quite surprised by these type of ceremonies occurring at a public school, on school property, in a major metropolitan area. Is this common still in the U.S.? Whether or not it is a good or bad thing to do, it would seem to be a violation of the Supreme Court's interpretation of the establishment of religion clause in the Bill of Rights. Comments? Frank Fite AT&T Bell Laboratories Holmdel, NJ ...!ihnp4!hotlb!fdf