Should educational agencies lose federal funding if they deny participation in school prayer?
This bill prohibits the provision of federal funds to any state or local educational agency that denies participation in constitutionally protected school prayer. Existing federal bills protect the right of students to engage in voluntary prayer in public settings. This bill would reinforce this notion, yet it includes the provision that non-compliance leads to loss of federal funding. Sponsor: Rep. David Rouzer (Republican, North Carolina, District 7)
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Opponents say
• "I think the Government ought to stay out of the prayer business…But in general, I think the Government ought to stay out of the prayer business and let it be between a person and God, and not let it be part of a school program under any tangible constraints, either a direct order to a child to pray or an embarrassing situation where the child would feel constrained to pray." Source: Past President Jimmy Carter
• "Indeed, students’ freedom to pray is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and, contrary to what Trump’s promise suggests, students are allowed to gather and pray together on school grounds. Government neutrality toward religion grants students the freedom to pray, or not pray, however they choose, without fear or favor. What’s not allowed is government-sponsored prayer. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1962 that government-sponsored prayer in public schools violates the First Amendment. Is that the type of coercive prayer that Trump wants to “bring back?” Schools making students pray? Trump’s school prayer charade isn’t about the freedom for students to pray — or not pray — as their conscience dictates, but about using the power of the government to compel students to pray in a particular way.." Source: MSNBC
Proponents say
• "The First Amendment states that government may not favor one religious practice over another. The Supreme Court thus ruled that these school prayers “established” Christianity while excluding other religions — and even excluding some forms of Christianity. However, ever since that Supreme Court ruling, conservative evangelicals have sought to reinstate state-sanctioned prayer in public schools, claiming its absence has led to moral rot among students and culture. Mandating — or even allowing — state-sponsored prayer in public schools would require upending a Supreme Court precedent, something highly unusual until the high court two years ago reversed Roe v. Wade, fulfilling another objective of conservative evangelicals. So it is possible but would take a long and winding course of litigation that would end up again at the Supreme Court 62 years later." Source: Baptist News Global
• "Displaying these principles in every classroom provides students with the opportunity to reflect on core moral values such as integrity, respect and responsibility—values that are essential for the future of our state and our nation." Source: Rep. David Spiller (Republican, Texas, District 68)
- Republican-controlled Texas House and Senate to debate prayer in schools (Chron)
- Ten Commandments, school prayer bills spark outrage among Texas parents (My San Antonio)
- The Department of Education updates guidance on public school prayer (NPR)
- After court ruling, activists push prayer into schools (The Washington Post)
- Can Schools Stop Students from Praying? (The74)
- Rep. David Rouzer’s Largest Donors (OpenSecrets)
