Canton nixes prayer from graduation ceremony
By Mike BergerCanton Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jennifer Fischer-Mueller has confirmed that there will be no invitation extended to a local religious leader for the delivery of a prayer at this year’s Canton High School graduation ceremony. The invocation, delivered by a Canton clergy member, has been a traditional part of the ceremony for the last several decades.
The decision to do away with the prayer came in response to a complaint letter from the Freedom from Religion Foundation. Fischer-Mueller said the school district sought advice from its legal counsel, who advised them how to act in compliance with federal law on this issue. “We will be sure we are doing that moving forward,” she said.
“This action will ensure that district employees act in a lawful manner but in no way limits student voice, which is a cornerstone of our Strategic Framework,” Fischer-Mueller said.
In its complaint letter, the foundation cited Rev. John Tamilio’s invocation given at the 2018 CHS graduation ceremony. According to the foundation, in Tamilio’s invocation, he called upon a “holy, loving, and most gracious God” to bless the graduates, and prayed that they “serve others in service of You.” He closed by twice asking the audience to give a “joyous Amen.” According to the foundation, the Supreme Court has specifically struck down clergy-delivered prayers at public school graduations for violating the Establishment Clause. “This prohibition extends to all school-sponsored events,” according to the foundation. “School officials may not invite a student, teacher, faculty member, clergy, or any other invited guest to give any type of prayer, invocation, or benediction at a school function.”
“The Supreme Court has settled this matter — high school graduations must be secular to protect the freedom of conscience of all students,” FFRF Robert G. Ingersoll Legal Fellow Colin McNamara wrote in June to Fischer-Mueller. “It makes no difference how many students or families want prayer at the graduation ceremony. As the Supreme Court has said, ‘Fundamental rights may not be submitted to vote; they depend on the outcome of no elections.’”
In a written response to the foundation, Fischer-Mueller wrote that “steps have been taken to ensure that there will be no prayers or religious rituals as a part of any school ceremony (e.g., graduation) or any other school-sponsored event.”
The Freedom from Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with more than 32,000 members across the country, including over 500 in Massachusetts. FFRF’s purposes are to protect the constitutional separation between state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=42566
Posted by Mike Berger
on Oct 13 2018. Filed under News, Schools.
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