The latest allegations from the American Humanist Association are shocking,
titillating, and (cue the 1950s soap opera organist) downright scandalous.
In a complaint filed by the organization on November 20 a Missouri public
school teacher has been accused of praying for an injured student, organizing a
project to feed hungry children and (brace yourself) -- cavorting with a
Methodist.
“Teachers simply cannot participate in prayers with students at school, nor
can they promote their religious beliefs in any other way to their students,”
the AHA said in a statement.
The humanists filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of two students accusing Gwen
Pope and the Fayette R-III School District of violating the Constitution by
allowing a Christian club to meet before the start of the school day. The
school's former principal is also named in the lawsuit.
Mrs. Pope, who is no longer teaching at the school, was the sponsor of the
Fellowship of Christian Students at Fayette High School. Since 2010, students
have voluntarily gathered before the start of the school day to pray and read
the Bible in her classroom.
The American Humanist Association said the two unnamed complainants had been
subjected to “unwelcome encounters with the classroom prayer sessions.”
It seems her classroom is near the entrance door of the school and apparently
non-believing students could see their classmates engaged in religious
activities.
They alleged that Mrs. Pope and the students were seen reading Bible verses
and (again, brace yourself) praying for the ill.
“When a student was sick or injured, Pope frequently asked the students in
attendance to pray for the afflicted student and joined the attending students
in prayer by bowing her head, closing her eyes and saying amen,” the lawsuit
alleged.
The lawsuit specifically mentions an incident that occurred during the
2010-11 school year when a classmate had been hospitalized for knee surgery.
Mrs. Pope allegedly encouraged the students to pray for the young man. The
lawsuit describes in great detail the aftermath of that request.
“She then bowed her head and closed her eyes,” the lawsuit states. “At the
end of the prayer, Pope joined the students in saying aloud, ‘Amen.’”
Can you believe a public school would tolerate such diabolical behavior?
The AHA also took issue with a flier that promoted the club’s participation
in the “Buddy Pack” program at a local food pantry. The packs are filled with
food and given to elementary school students to take home over the weekend.
http://nation.foxnews.com/2013/11/26/starnes-american-humanist-association-sues-teacher-who-prayed-sick-student?cmpid=NL_foxnation
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