Federal appeals court lifts ban on graduation prayer

It looks like prayers will be allowed at a Texas high school graduation after all. Stewart Ball reports from Dallas that a federal appeals court Friday reversed a ban which resulted from the lawsuit filed by an agnostic family that claiming that invocation ceremonies at public events are unconstitutional:

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals granted the emergency appeal filed by the Medina Valley Independent School District. The San Antonio-area school was ordered by a federal judge earlier this week to forbid students from asking audience members to join in prayer or bow their heads at Saturday's graduation.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Christa and Danny Schultz, whose son is graduating. The family's suit was being backed by the Washington-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

[...]

Biery's original ruling prohibited students from praying at the graduation. Biery instead suggested that students modify their remarks to be "statements of their own beliefs," allow them to make the sign of the cross, wear a yarmulke or hijab, or kneel to face Mecca.

[More]

Amen.

- JP