Alabama Public School Prayer Dispute Heard by Court Gov. Fob James & Religious Right Push Majority Religion Pat Robertson & James Dobson Ignoring U.S. Constitution

Compiled by GayToday Montgomery, Ala. — The U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments Monday in an Alabama lawsuit over prayer and other religious practices in public schools. On one side were Gov. Fob James, Attorney General Bill Pryor and their Religious Right allies who support school-sanctioned religious worship. On the other side were Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the American Civil Liberties Union, groups that advocate a clear division between religion and government. Gov. Fob James Said Americans United Legal Director Steven K. Green, "Gov. James and his Religious Right allies want to impose the majority's faith on all Alabama public school students. The U.S. Constitution forbids such tyranny, and I do not believe the federal courts will allow them to get away with it." At issue is a federal court order barring the DeKalb County Public School District from involvement in prayer or other religious activities. In that order, U.S. District Judge Ira DeMent ruled in favor of Michael Chandler, a DeKalb parent who filed the suit with help from Americans United and the ACLU. The Chandler v. James case is now on appeal. Attorney General Bill Pryor Attorney General Pryor is represented in court by Jay Sekulow, top lawyer for TV preacher Pat Robertson's American Center for Law and Justice. Gov. James is represented by Leigh O'Dell, an attorney formerly affiliated with radio counselor James Dobson's Focus on the Family. Said Americans United's Green, "Gov. James and his friends want to tear down the wall of separation between church and state. That would be a disaster for religious freedom in America. Judge DeMent ordered public school officials to stop promoting religion, but allowed individual students broad freedom to practice their faith. This is a reasonable and constitutional approach that the vast majority of Americans would support." American United's Green noted that DeKalb County school officials have reported that school-sponsored religious activities have generally ceased, but that individual students continue to pray freely. Related Stories in GayToday's Archives: Supreme Court Won't Hear Wisconsin School Voucher Case Related Sites: Americans United for Separation of Church & State GayToday does not endorse related sites.

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