Judge: No prayer at graduation (But KY students ignore ACLU ruling, recite Lord's Prayer!)

RUSSELL SPRINGS - A federal judge barred prayer during a Russell County High School graduation ceremony last night but it included a religious message nonetheless. Megan Chapman made sure of that.

Chapman, chosen by fellow seniors to deliver opening remarks, had planned to include a prayer as had been the practice at commencement for decades. Instead, she talked of her faith and God's love.

"God will never leave you or forsake you," she said drawing a loud standing ovation from the 2,000-plus people packed into the gym.

Many in the conservative county did not agree with U.S. District Judge Judge Joseph McKinley's decision barring the prayer.

[Snip]

Several students interrupted principal Darren Gossage early in the ceremony to recite a portion of the Lord's Prayer, an act the crowd cheered.

(Excerpt) Read more at kentucky.com ..

It was just one kid that had whined:

McKinley granted a temporary restraining order yesterday barring a prayer at the school's commencement.

School officials strongly disagreed with the decision but didn't have time yesterday to attempt to overturn it before the ceremony, said attorney Michael Owsley of Bowling Green, who represented Gossage. McKinley's ruling came in a lawsuit filed Tuesday by a student identified only as John Doe.

The student argued that including prayer at graduation would constitute an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion. A school-sponsored prayer would be offensive to him, tarnish his enjoyment of the event and violate his rights, the student claimed.

"My high-school graduation is a very important event for me and I want to attend my graduation without having to compromise my Constitutional rights," he said in an affidavit.

The teen asked to remain anonymous, saying he feared retaliation if his identity became public. He said he has been threatened in the past for expressing his views about religion, including having a cross burned in his yard.

Gabe McNeil, one of 189 seniors, said that during a rehearsal Thursday other students booed the student suspected of filing the challenge when he walked across the stage. He was not booed during the ceremony.