Dinner Prayers at VMI Ruled Unconstitutional

Fox News ^ | April 28, 2003 | Associated Press

[First Amendment]

RICHMOND, Va.

[First Amendment]

I wonder how many of the cadets at VMI are sorry about this worse than stupid ruling? Attendance at VMI is voluntary; once there, the prayer has been a tradition for generations and I'm sure is accepted by 99% of everyone without question. Which has been more detrimental for people - lack of prayer or too much prayer?

[BenLurkin]

Sickening.

[Deb]

Looks like Barry Lynn has given up pretending to be "an ordained minister" and is outta the closet as the lowest form of life...a lawyer.

[cherry]

barry lynn is one of the ten people that I would miss the least if something happened to him...he is pure evil, absolutely pure evil....

could VMI have declared itself a private institution?

if they had, they would still be all male wouldn't they, and wouldn't they be allowed this prayer...???

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Oh my God, no! The communists are trying to destroy every American institution of merit. The young men at VMI are simply exemplary among young men everywhere. But the communists won't be satisfied until they have dismantled every shred of moral character, discipline and decency. Every last shred. This ruling is pure evil and was NEVER the intent of the 1st Amendment. Stonewall Jackson is certainly spinning in his grave.

[ImphClinton]

Talk about taking logic and turning on it's head. Freedom of speach would allow the prayer. To deny it is to deny the freedom of speach to the one giving it. The whole purpose of the first amendment was to allow speach that might be offensive to some.

If you don't want to hear a prayer show up to dinner with a walkman and listen to your rap music or satanic lessons.

[Slings and Arrows]

To paraphrase Andrew Jackson: The court has made their ruling, now let them enforce it.

Absolutely disgusting.

[cartoonistx]

Just what the Liberals MUST want....the nation's future military leaders devoid of any moral controls. Nothing like a heavily armed, ruthless and Godless fighting force led by selfish sexually confused atheists to make you feel all warm and fuzzy about America's future defense.

[Cindy]

FROM THE BIBLE:

Luke 21:17 -
Jesus said, "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake."

John 15:18 -
Jesus said, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."

John 15:25 -
Jesus said, "But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause."

John 17:14 -
Jesus said, "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."

[PRND21]

The liberals win another one.

[Democrap]

Just one more reason not to have the government involved in education. Once they (schools) take the tax money they have lost their freedom.

[American Soldier]

That's a good way to put it.

[LiteKeeper]

spotrep

[ppaul]

First they forced VMI to have girl cadets.
Now this.
The humiliation is complete.
Shame.

[Cindy]

"The liberals win another one."

YEP. They even won another one...

AGAPE PRESS: "SUPREMES DENY APPEAL; KENTUCKY'S TEN COMMANDMENTS DISPLAY NIXED" by Fred Jackson (April 28, 2003)
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/4/282003a.asp

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "That is when the American Civil Liberties Union stepped in and, with the help of a rabbi and three ministers, launched a court challenge to keep the display from being placed on the capital grounds.

Kentucky, along with several other states -- Alabama, Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah -- argued that the permissibility of government displays of the Ten Commandments raised a question of "national importance" because such displays acknowledge the Ten Commandments' historical role in American culture and law. The courts disagreed."

[kritikos]

Some thoughts on this.

First, it is disheartening to see our country moving continuously in this direction (the removal of God from the public square).

However, this ruling is not as significant as some might feel.

Those at VMI who were not inclined to pray would not be praying anyway even if their heads were inclined (bowed).

Those who are inclined to pray (in their hearts) will pray, no matter the ruling.

The loss will be symbolic spiritual unity only, not real spiritual unity.

Those who know the power of prayer will exercise it at all times.

The rest will exercise that privilege once they come under enemy fire.

[Cindy]

FREEREPUBLIC.com - Discussion Threads - Search Term: "ACLU"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/search?s=ACLU&ok=Search&q=deep&m=exact&o=time&SX=3eae13f06bf0e1323d6e94406e89db961067a384

GOOGLE Search Term: "ACLU"
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22ACLU%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&filter=0

[HairOfTheDog]

In an important victory for First Amendment groups, a federal appeals court ruled Monday that the traditional prayers said before evening meals at the Virginia Military Institute (search) are unconstitutional.

Huh? [scratches head]