This is a statement that was read over the PA system at
the football game at Roane county High School, Kingston,
Tennessee, by school Principal, Jody McLoud, on September 1,
2000 .
"It has always been the custom at Roane County High
School football games, to say a prayer and play the National
Anthem, to honor God and Country. Due to a recent ruling by
the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a
violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at
this time, I can use this public facility to approve of
sexual perversion and call it, "an alternate lifestyle," and
if someone is offended, that's OK.
I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing
condoms and calling it, "safe sex." If someone is offended,
that's OK. I can even use this public facility, to present
the merits of killing an unborn baby, as a "viable means of
birth control." If someone is offended, no problem.
I can designate a school day as, "Earth Day" and involve
students in activities to worship religiously and praise the
goddess, "Mother Earth," and call it "ecology."
I can use literature, videos and presentations in the
classroom that depict people with strong, traditional
Christian convictions as, "simple minded" and "ignorant" and
call it, "enlightenment."
However, if anyone uses this facility to honor God, and to
ask Him to bless this event with safety and good
sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated. This
appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst,
diabolical.
Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and
anyone, except God and His Commandments. Nevertheless, as a
school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to
abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree.
For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and
at worst, hypocritical. I suffer from that affliction enough
unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an
intentional transgression.
For this reason, I shall "Render unto Caesar that which is
Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time. However,
if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank God, and ask
Him, in the name of Jesus, to bless this event, please feel
free to do so. As far as I know, that's not against the
law----yet."
One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads,
held hands with one another, and began to pray. They prayed
in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed
at the concession stand, and they prayed in the announcer's
box.
The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court
of the United States of America - the seat of "justice" in
the "one nation, under God."
