Judge Roberts and School Prayer
In accordance with its policy of a continual dumpfest, the White House is granting more and more records in accordance with the liberals demands. In a recently-released memorandum, Judge Roberts described the Supreme Court’s decision to prohibit school prayer as “indefensible. ” Not suprisingly, such a revelation riled up the posse at Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (”AU”). In a press release, AU’s Atheist-in-Chief Barry Lynn responded:
This is just one more piece of evidence that Roberts has spent years working to erode the First Amendment principle of church-state separation, said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. It’s no wonder Religious Right lobbyists are backing his nomination with such enthusiasm.
Public schools serve children of all faiths and none, Lynn continued. It is imperative that our schools leave decisions about worship to parents. Religious minorities would face unrelenting majority pressures if Roberts’ views of the Constitution became the law of the land.
While re-affirming AU’s blind allegiance to their ill-begotten pillar of separation of church and state, Lynn indirectly raises an interesting point. Should schools inculcate the value of prayer in public school? Furthermore, does any type of religious teaching or influence deserve protection in public schools? If you were to ask George Washington, who proclaimed a Day of Thanksgiving, what would he say? How about Benjamin Franklin?
While it is true that the Constitution protects religious majorities and minorities, it does not reject religion neither bar nor prohibit religion in the public arena. Religion plays an indispensable role in instilling moral direction in the lives of youth. School prayer is just one example. While it is the parents charge to teach or open up religious opportunities in a child’s home, it is the Nation’s responsibility to promote religion insofar as religion is necessary for a nation’s moral foundation.
I’m pleased Judge Roberts supports (at least he did support) school prayer and even more pleased that he understands what the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment means and does not mean.