ICC Note: Following a letter of complaint from the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), an Indiana school district has decided to remove prayer from all school-sponsored events. In response to prayers taking place at graduations and other school ceremonies, the FFRF suggested that the district was unconstitutionally endorsing religion through these practices. Although the district initially resisted changing their policies, they eventually gave into the demands after the FFRF continued to follow up.

By Heather Clark

12/13/2016 United States (Christian News Network) – An Indiana school district has discontinued all invocations during school programs following a complaint from a prominent professing atheist organization.

Earlier this year, the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent a letter to the superintendent of Jennings County Schools to request that prayer be kept out of district-sponsored events.

It advised that a complainant, who was not named, informed them that students had delivered prayer at the 2014 and 2015 academic honors dinner, and that prayer is also a part of district graduation ceremonies.

“It is unconstitutional for Jennings County Schools to schedule, approve or otherwise endorse prayers or other religious messages,” the letter read. “A prayer taking place at a ‘regularly scheduled school-sponsored function conducted on school property’ would lead an objective observer to perceive it as state endorsement of religion.”

“It makes no difference how many students want prayer or would not be offended by prayer at their graduation ceremony,” it continued. “The district has a duty to remain neutral toward religion. By scheduling prayers at graduation, the district abridges that duty and alienates the 35% of young Americans who are not religious.”

According to FFRF, the district resisted for some time, but due to follow-up letters, it now has advised that prayer will no longer be a part of school programs.

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