The school meetings are “vague” because there were several of them. They were listed in the story as being mandatory.

And in response to the fact he was not fired: I would say that makes this an issue of religious discrimination or harassment.

The principal really should not have led the faculty in prayer at a public school, but just b/c Makinson was not fired does not mean that it does not violate his rights.

Also, in response to the “excess litigiousness” comment, I would like to remind you that Makinson is seeking no damages in his suit, just an ending to the prayers at mandatory staff meetings. I don’t see any selfish motivation there.

Thanks for the comment David and I agree that religious beliefs should be primarily taught in the home.

And I do believe that young children benefit from learning relgious principles early on.

I like to think of myself as a good example of this.

I was brought up in a very conservative family and community.

We attended church frequently and I was taught the teachings of Jesus and what is considered by my church to be good and bad.

As I got older, the more religious teachings about salvation, heaven and hell and creation lost favor with me.

But the morality I learned stuck with me, even though I kind of disregarded the religion.

You might think that b/c of my more leftist leanings, I have no morals, but I do in fact have better morals than many of my devout Christian friends.

I very seldom drink, I’m still a virgin, I don’t do drugs, I give money to charity, I obey laws, I don’t believe in stealing (that includes music), and I don’t like excessive profanity.

I belive all these are good qualities I want my children to have, so I’m considering going back to church when my children are born so they can learn these principles like I did.

That doesn’t mean I want them taught in the public schools with Christian overtones.

“There’s a place and a time for children and adults to learn religious ideologies. That place is in church.”

I disagree. First, let me state that the primary place to learn religious ideologies is the home. Second, I think that learning and understanding religious ideologies is necessary in the general education of our youth (and, for that matter, adults). I was one of two Catholic kids at my high school - I was ridiculed all the time. But it only served to benefit me.

History knows the answer to some of your closing questions. Besides, even I would be afraid if the Church in America had that much power,

It’s OK if the teachers want to participate in prayer with each other. It’s even OK if the school officials get involved.

But when it’s part of a mandatory event, like a faculty meeting on school property, that’s a violation of what this country claims to hold dear: the First Amendment.

Would be OK for these teachers to lead their students in prayer in class? No, it would not. There’s a place and a time for children and adults to learn religious ideologies. That place is in church.

The separation of church and state does not just protect religious minorities from the religious majorities, it also protects the religious majority from the government.

Do you belive that if the United States were a Catholic theocracy, everyone would be better off?

Do you believe the Catholic Church would be better off? Is it immune from corruption?

How would the church fair when the government was overthrown?

Do you think it would be very popular with the masses? I think that would spell the end of the church in America.