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Religion, politics must be divided

Texas Gov. Rick Perry made his thoughts on prayer in public schools clear when he led a school prayer at Palestine Middle School on Oct. 18.

While there is no problem for Perry to support prayers in public schools during his campaign trip, there is a problem when he actually leads a school prayer during a school-wide assembly.

With Perry’s current actions, a new debate on an old subject has been re-opened. It’s a subject that has a history dating back to 1962 when the Supreme Court heard one of the first cases of the constitutionality of prayer in public schools.

After 50 years Americans are still fighting about whether or not to allow state-sponsored prayers in the classroom.

he only problem is will it be a mandatory prayer, or will students be allowed to pray voluntarily?

any opponents to prayer in the classroom say that when a big deal is made about school prayer than you are moving closer to establishing forced religion in schools, which is exactly something that seems to be happening.

“They are opening a door and assuming the prayer will be Christian,” said Samantha Smoot, executive director of the Texas Freedom Network. “What will they say if, one day, a prayer in a school is not?”

And this is a question that supporters of prayer in public schools may have not thought of yet, but maybe one that should be asked before they take it back to court.

Ronald Flowers, professor of religion, said no ruling by the Supreme Court or any law could remove God from schools.

“I’ve always said as long as there are math tests, there will be prayer in schools,” he said. “If a student wants to pray before a math test, that’s fine. As long as it is not disruptive to others or forcing others to participate.”

Samuel Duncan, pastor of First Calvary Church in Fort Worth agrees that allowing a brief prayer or a moment of silence before the beginning of a school day, does not establish a religion.

“There is a difference between allowing students to pray, voluntarily, in a school and the government endorsing a religion,” Duncan said.

EXACTLY.

This topic is not likely to die down anytime soon.

While Perry kicked off his campaign for his first election bid for governor, he said that he will make returning organized prayer to public schools a campaign issue.

“Why can’t we say a prayer at a football game or a patriotic event?” Perry asked. “I don’t understand the logic of that.”

Well maybe the problem is that not understanding the logic is the problem.

TCU Daily Skiff © 2002