The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago upheld an Illinois law mandating a moment of silence in public schools. The law, which sets aside time for "silent prayer or for silent reflection on the anticipated activities of the day," had been overturned by a federal court in 2009 on the grounds that it violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
Judge Daniel Manion, a Reagan appointee, disagreed. Writing for the 2-1 majority, Manion said that the law, by offering students a choice about what to do with the time, differs from vocal prayer in that it neither favors a particular religion, nor forces children to pray at all. In other words, it doesn't establish a religion.
In her dissent, Judge Ann Claire Williams, a Clinton appointee, wrote that the law makes an "unnecessary reference to prayer," and that "by enumerating prayer as one of the only two specific permissible activities, the Act conveys a message that Illinois students should engage in prayer during the prescribed period as opposed to a host of other silent options."
The Illinois ACLU, which filed the original suit challenging the constitutionality of the law, was of course not happy with the ruling. No doubt they're concerned that children might use the time to -- God forbid -- pray.
Why is the left so hostile towards anything that does not take away from individuality such as a moment to reflect or pray silently? Study Lenin a little and you will understand.
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