Search

A local judge in Texas who opens courtroom sessions withChristian prayer may continue to do so, a federal appeals courthas ruled. "When litigants enter Judge Mack's courtroom, they mustdecide whether they will stay for the prayer ceremony or exitthe courtroom for its duration", Jolly wrote. [Extracted from the article]

Focuses on the United States Supreme Court's ruling on school-sponsored prayers before football games in Santa Fe, Texas. Questions on the legality of `student-led' prayers recited over loudspeakers before football games; Supreme Court's reaffirmation of the school prayer rulings of the 1960s.

Discusses court rulings against the Santa Fe Independent School District's policy allowing high school students to select a classmate to deliver a message or invocation prior to home football games. Argument that the rulings violate the students' free speech; Respondents' contrary position that allowing student speech violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; First Amendment-mandated separation of church and state.

Discusses the case of 'Jane and John Doe v. Santa Fe Independent School District.' Court's affirmation of a lower court decision ruling that sectarian, proselytizing speeches in school violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution; Analysis of the case 'Jones v. Clear Creek Independent School District'; School districts' control of the content of graduation prayers.

Discusses a lawsuit filed against the Santa Fe Independent School District in Texas for its policy of allowing high school students to choose a classmate who will deliver a message or invocation before home school football games. Allegation that the policy violates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause; Courts' ruling that under no circumstances could organized prayer be permitted at games; Prohibition against state support for or endorsement of religion.

Focuses on the case `Santa Fe Independent School District versus Doe' being heard by the United States Supreme Court. Prayer before a football game; Texas state's continued involvement as contentious; Church-state separation issues.

Presents news briefs affecting the life of Protestant churches from around the world. Development of several online services for charitable works; Information on the book `The Bible and Public Schools: The First Amendement Guide,' published by First Amendment Center; Legal issues on reciting a prayer invocation during a football game in Texas.

Reports that the Texas Senate passed a bill giving students a full minute of prayer or silen time. Publishing of 'My Sixty Seconds,' by Deborah Knapp, a book which contains Bible verses designed to help children with their prayer-time.

Offers opinions about the United States Supreme Court ruling against a Texas high school's prayers before football games. How the prayers gave the author a sense of inclusion and camaraderie with his teammates; His diverse religious experiences and his impression of prayer at his Texas high school; How prayer added gravity to his football games.

The article informs that religious group Americans United has alleged that a Texas public school district has violated the U.S. Constitution when it opened its meetings with official prayers. It mentions that a coalition of civil liberties groups has alleged that Birdville Independent School District's prayer practice constituted school-sponsored religious exercises.

The article focuses on Texas' Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act (RVAA), which protects religious expression in students' speech at events. Schools in the state are rushing to create policies that will help them to avoid lawsuits although attorney William C. Bednar says that caution will avoid difficulties. Kathy Miller of the Texas Freedom Network lobbied unsuccessfully against the bill. The bill was co-written by Representatives Charlie Howard and Warren Chisum.

Relates an experience of a safety inspector at the Royal-Dutch Shell plant in Texas which illustrates how divine grace infiltrate human affairs. Prayer made by the safety inspector before going to work; Minor problems he encountered in his work; Information on the accident that happened in the Texas plant after he moved to Norway.

Presents updates on issues related to the Roman Catholic Church in the United States as of November 2000. Final meal requests of executed prisoners in Texas according to the Web site of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; Litigation of churches for publicly disclosing illnesses during intercessory prayers.

Discusses the impact of the ruling of the United States Supreme Court banning students from offering prayers on a public address system at sports events on the policy of Texas' Santa Fe Independent School District. What prompted the ruling; Criticisms against the law; Comments from Dewayne Sexton, head football coach and athletic director at Abernathy High School; Implications of the ruling.

Provides information on the plan of lawyer Kelly Coghlan to develop guidelines to allow students to offer prayers at football games in Houston, Texas. Details of the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court regarding student-led prayers at games; Details of the guidelines.

Reports on the decision of the Supreme Court in Texas on June 19, 2000 to rule against student-led prayers before athletic events. Reason for banning school sponsorship of a religious message; Justices who cast the dissenting votes; Opinion on the ruling.

Focuses on the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Katherine Hackleman Furley, a student at Aledo Independent School District in Texas, against the school regarding the presentation of a Catholic prayer at her high school's graduation ceremony. Claims against the school; Analysis of the case; Judgment issued by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Reports on the United States Supreme Court's holding of a hearing to determine the constitutionality of school-sponsored prayer before football games in Santa Fe, Texas. Arguments of both sides of the debate; Questions on allowing students to vote on having prayer.

Presents excerpts from arguments for and against court rulings in the case 'Santa Fe Independent School District v. Jane Doe, John Doe, et al.' Petitioner's argument that the school district has adopted a neutral policy that permits student-led, student-initiated speech at football games; Court's ruling that the right of free speech and press and fundamental rights of liberty and property should never be subjected to a vote.

Discusses the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling in the case 'Santa Fe Independent School District v. Jane Doe, John Doe, et al.' Court's finding that the school district violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment; Policy of allowing high school students to select a classmate to lead an invocation or message before home school football games; Opposition to state endorsement of religion of any kind.

Critiques the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling in the case 'Santa Fe Independent School District v. Jane Doe, John Doe, et al.' Court's finding that the school district violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment; Policy of allowing high school students to select a classmate to lead an invocation or message before home school football games.

Looks at the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling in the case 'Santa Fe Independent School District v. Jane Doe, John Doe, et al.' Court's finding that the school district violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment; Policy of allowing high school students to select a classmate to lead an invocation or message before home school football games; Concern that the policy will adversely affect free private expression of religion in the nation.

Comments on the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling in the case 'Santa Fe Independent School District v. Jane Doe, John Doe, et al.' Court's finding that the school district violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment; Policy of allowing high school students to select a classmate to lead an invocation or message before home school football games; Argument that such student-initiated speech is not State action but constitutionally protected private speech.

Discusses the constitutionality of the policy of the Santa Fe Independent School District in Texas allowing high school students to give an invocation or message before home football games. Court's ruling that such a policy constituted a violation of the First Amendment Establishment of Religion Clause; Adoption of a policy based upon a court decision that required prayers to be nonsectarian and nonproselytizing.

Focuses on the role of prayer in United States schools, in light of the Supreme Court's November 1999 agreement to hear a case challenging the Santa Fe, Texas, school district's policy of allowing public prayers before football games. Lawsuit claims; School board defense of the policy; Provisions of the so-called establishment clause of the US Constitution.

Reports on a brief filed by Americans United with other organizations on a Texas judge's violation of the First Amendment when he ruled that a divorced woman could not take her child to a predominantly gay Christian church. Impermissible state assessment of ecclesiastical matters and partiality concerning religious denominations; Violation of the mother's free exercise rights.

Reports the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court on November 15, 1999 to review a case in Texas that would determine whether student-led prayers at football games violate constitutional mandates of separation of church and state. Facts of the case; States that supported the policy of the Texas school district in allowing student-led prayers; Brief filed by the People for the American Way in support of the plaintiffs in the case.

Focuses on the refusal of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to review its decision banning student-led prayers before public high school football games in Texas. Reaction of state officials; Background on the case; Basis of the decision.

Covers disputes over the separation between church and state that have polarized members of small communities in Texas. Mention of lawsuits sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU); Role of the United States Supreme Court in articulating national guidelines for school prayer and other issues of church and state separation.

The article reports on the decision of a district court to uphold a moment-of-silence law against a First Amendment challenge in Texas. The court finds that the secular purpose of allowing all types of thoughtful contemplation is legitimate. It also concludes that this purpose is supported by the legislative history. Ellen Johnson of American Atheists says that the law is all about promoting prayer in the public schools.

Details the experience of a woman from Lufkin, Texas diagnosed with ovarian cancer believed to be cured by prayer. Treatment undergone by the patient; Patient's claim that prayers have given her more time to spend with her family.

Reports on the defense of Representative Chet Edwards to church-state separation in Texas. Advocacy for religious liberty; Opposition to mandatory school prayer amendment; Arguments against the faith-based initiatives of U.S. President George W. Bush.

Comments on the resolution passed by the United States (U.S.) House stating that public schools should set aside time to allow children to pray for or quietly reflect on the nation during the struggle against terrorism. Number of students that were prevented from wearing patriotic pins at a school in Anaheim, California; Refusal of Johnston High School in Austin, Texas to allow students to participate in patriotic events.

Reports that lawyer Kelly Coghlan is sending copies of guidelines he developed for school districts in Texas to help the school districts comply with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on school prayer. Reason for mailing the guidelines; Argument of opponents of prayer in schools.

Discusses the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the 1992 case 'Lee v. Weisman' that high schools cannot schedule clergy-led prayer during their graduation ceremonies. Policy devised by the Santa Fe Independent School District that allowed students to vote on whether they wanted student volunteers to give an invocation during graduation ceremonies and prior to school football games; Court's consideration of whether Santa Fe's policy is a novel way to allow student religious expression.

Focuses on a case in Texas involving school prayer. Background of the case; Involvement of schools in administering prayers; Significance of freedom of speech; Constitutional law on religious worship.

Reflects on a case being heard by the United States Supreme Court about a pregame invocation being applied at Galveston High School in Texas. How the school tried to avoid violating a past ruling about such rituals; Information on the statement given by Justice David Souter towards the case.

Announces that Texas voters supported a non-binding ballot initiative in support of student-led prayers before public school football games. Information on a 1995 case when parents in one school district sued to end the practice; Representative of the parents in the case.

Reports on the support of voters in Texas of student-led prayers before public school football games. Significance of the practice; Stance of opponents; Decision of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.