Bow Your Head Break the
Court
April 16, 2008
WorldNetDaily
This crosses into the territory of the book of Daniel, where
this coach’s Fear of God is above his fear of man. His obedience has been thus
far a costly witness for him, but a powerful righteous witness none the less. This man should be sought out and placed into
elected office.
A federal appeals court ruled a
The decision against coach Marcus
Borden of East
Brunswick High School, however, will be appealed, said John Whitehead, president
of the Virginia-based civil-liberties group the Rutherford Institute.
"If this ruling is allowed to stand, it will mean that
high school teachers across the
Borden's practice was to bow his head silently or "take a knee"
while students on his football team led prayer prior to games.
But in 2005, officials at
The school concluded while it could not infringe on the
students' constitutionally protected right to pray, it could limit the actions
of coaches, who are public employees and whose participation allegedly would
violate "the separation of church and state."
U.S. District Judge Dennis Cavanaugh ruled the following year
the district's interpretation was wrong and that school officials were
violating Borden's rights to free speech, freedom of association and academic
freedom.
The district,
however, challenged the ruling and, aided by Americans United for Separation of
Church and State, argued Borden lacked any constitutional rights to expression
or academic freedom because of his duties as teacher and coach.
The appellate judges concluded Borden's acts "cross the
line and constitute and unconstitutional endorsement of religion."