A federal lawsuit was filed Friday by the Americans United for Separation of Church and State to prevent a Texas school district from allowing prayer during graduation, according to FoxSanAntonio.com.
UPDATE 6/4/11: Prayer restored - federal appeals court overrules activist judge
UPDATE 6/15/13: Texas Law Tells Schools to Ignore Atheist Threats
-- From "Lawsuit Filed Against Texas School District to Stop Prayer During Graduation" by FoxNews.com 5/28/11
The group wants the school district to remove a student-led invocation and benediction, but the school district says that the remarks do not violate any laws or school policy, according to the Express.
A school spokesman says the group is just trying to create a political debate.
"It is sad that someone would choose the commencement exercises of the 50th anniversary of our school district as a forum for stirring political debate that threatens to needlessly cast a shadow of controversy over the pinnacle event of the class of 2011," school board president Roland Ruiz told the paper.
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From "District is sued for prayer plans" by Melissa Stoeltje, San Antonio Express 5/28/11
The district disagrees [with the lawsuit accusations], stating that plans for student remarks at the ceremony do not violate any laws or school policy.
The school board president, in a statement Friday, said the district is “aware of the fine balancing act” required of the First Amendment rights of speech and religion and has set a neutral policy.
Roland Ruiz, school board president, said that allowing students to express their own religious views doesn't mean the district is sponsoring religious activity.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Christa and Danny Schultz, who have two children in the district, including a son scheduled to graduate next week from Medina Valley High School.
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