For the second time in as many months, a parent has launched a federal lawsuit against the Tangipahoa School Board over religion, this time objecting to a teacher-led prayer delivered at a recent high school graduation ceremony.The suit was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in New Orleans. It marks the sixth court case in 13 years by the American Civil Liberties Union against the same school district involving matters of religion, according to Joe Cook, executive director of Louisiana's branch of the ACLU.
"It's certainly a state record," Cook said. "I'm not aware of any school district that's been sued this many times for religious freedom."
At the ceremony, John "P" received a program that specified a student would deliver the invocation. Instead, a faculty member at PM High School gave a prayer that began with "Lord we thank you for ... " and ended with "We pray for these things in Jesus' name, Amen," the suit states.
John "P," who is Catholic, found the invocation "offensive and objectionable" because it served to advance only one faith, Christianity, the suit claims.
Last month, a parent filed a federal suit claiming the district permitted the distribution of Gideon Bibles to a class of fifth-graders while on school grounds. The board has also been sued for allowing teacher-led prayer in the classroom, over the intercom, at school-sponsored events and during board meetings.[Snip, article here]
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