Judge strikes down law on student prayer

MONROE, La. — A Louisiana federal court June 14 struck down a state law permitting student volunteers to open the public school day with a prayer.

The law “cannot help but create the appearance that the state of Louisiana is endorsing religion” by “creating a venue for public prayer … under the supervision of public officials,” said U.S. District Judge Robert G. James.

The ruling does not apply to students’ individual prayers, or to group prayers by self-selected students before, during or after the school day.

For years Louisiana law has permitted educators to allow a moment of silent meditation at the beginning of the school day.

In 1992, the Legislature added the word “prayer.” Last year, state Rep. Cynthia Willard, D-New Orleans, sponsored a move to delete the word “silent” from the law, thus authorizing spoken prayer as a material of school routine.