Judge asked to rule on prayer

A central Indiana school district has asked a federal judge whether it should go ahead with a planned high school graduation prayer, which most of the senior class wants but its best and top-ranked student opposes.

Greenwood High School will not call off the student-led prayer unless the judge orders it, Greenwood School Board President Joe Farley said.

“We just feel like it’s the right thing to do,” Farley said.

Senior Eric Workman has asked a federal judge to stop the prayer the senior class voted to approve.

The lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana on the 18-year-old’s behalf claims the prayer and class vote unconstitutionally subjects religious practice to majority rule.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana contends that even if students choose not to participate in the

graduation prayer, they are still being subjected to the prayer and compelled to
participate, even if they only are  being expected to stand respectfully, said Ken Falk, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Indiana.

Workman is ranked at the top of his class academically and is expected to speak during graduation, according to the lawsuit.

A prayer could be particularly uncomfortable for someone sitting on the stage who does not want to participate, Falk said.

The school district has until April 16 to respond to the lawsuit.

The court hearing is scheduled for April 30.

The district’s attorneys didn’t return telephone messages seeking comment
Friday.