In a court case in Florida, which was really a waste of taxpayer money, the ACLU lost on Thursday, Sept. 17. They filed a lawsuit against the high school principal and athletic director of Pace High School in Santa Rosa County for the blessing of a meal on school property. The ACLU charged that the prayer violated a court order and accused the men of criminal contempt, which has a punishment of up to 6 months in jail and a $5,000 fine if those accused get convicted.
At a luncheon on school property to thank financial supporters of a new athletic facility at the school, the principal, Frank Lay, asked athletic director Robert Freeman to bless the food. When this was made known to the ACLU, they filed suit based on a 2008 court order agreed to by the school district stating that the school district would not allow any endorsements of religion in its schools by teachers or administrators. Even though no students were at the luncheon, the ACLU felt the order had been violated.
Judge Casey Rogers, who was also the judge who handed down the 2008 court order, presided in this case. She ruled that the men did not violate her court order, stating that Freeman was just following the orders of his boss, and that Lay did not mean to violate the order since it had been the tradition of the school district for 20 years to offer prayers. However, the judge did scold the men about being careful about such actions in the future.
A large number of supporters of the men, including students, church members, and church groups, showed up outside the courtroom holding up signs and wearing T-shirts. At times they prayed aloud and sang hymns.
The trial took place on National Constitution Day, a day in commemoration of the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. Matthew Staver of the Liberty Counsel, which represents clients whose religious freedoms are violated, represented the men and is quoted as saying, “I was deeply moved while sitting in the courtroom on National Constitution Day and hearing allegations that honorable men should be treated like criminals over blessing a meal. …I have witnessed the day where someone who blesses a meal would be treated like a criminal – not in communist countries – but in America! This case has made clear the radical agenda of the ACLU – to criminalize Christianity.”
Organizations like the ACLU and individuals who oppose Christianity have time after time claimed that Christianity promotes hate and violates the Constitution. But the truth of this matter is that those who oppose anything that resembles Christianity are the ones who are full of hate and are violating the Constitution and are just projecting their feelings on us to try to justify their own hatred and evil actions.
