School system assures humanist group about prayer policy

The St. Mary Parish School System provided the American Humanist Association with written assurances that prayer at school events, which violate the district’s policy, and similar incidents will not take place in the future, according to a news release from the Washington, D.C.,-based organization.
Meanwhile, groups on social media are attempting to organize a candlelight prayer rally at Morgan City High School this weekend.
Monica Miller, an attorney with the Appignani Humanist Legal Center, said, “We’re pleased that the school district will now comply with the Establishment Clause and not promote prayer or religion.”
A prayer by an invited veteran during Morgan City High School’s Veterans Day program prompted the humanist group to threaten the St. Mary Parish School System with a lawsuit if the “practice of including prayer in school-sponsored events” did not immediately stop.
The prayer vigil is planned for 5:30 p.m. Sunday in the Morgan City High School parking lot, according to June Mire, one of the social media organizers.
Additionally, Mire said KATC-TV will be at Lawrence Park at 4 p.m. today to speak to any individuals wanting to speak out about school prayer.
Morgan City Assistant Police Chief Mark Griffin Jr. said today that the department had been in contact with the school system, which was instructed to contact police if there are any gatherings or complaints. He said there would be frequent patrols in the area of the planned peaceful protest.
Further, he said if it is a peaceful demonstration and not a parade-type event, no permit is needed.
School Superintendent Donald Aguillard said that he had not been informed of any requests to use the facilities, but if it’s being held in a parking lot, as he has heard, the school system doesn’t need to grant permission, particularly if that activity is being held on a weekend or holiday.
The humanist group received a complaint from a female Morgan City High School student.
“The student in question felt compelled to stay at the assembly despite her sincere objection to school-sponsored prayers, because she feared the school would punish her if she attempted to leave. (Apparently, teachers have punished students in the past for exercising their constitutional right to sit out the Pledge of Allegiance.),” the letter from the humanist association stated.
A news release from the school system Wednesday states that Superintendent Donald Aguillard, in collaboration with board attorney Eric Duplantis, carefully reviewed the complaint made by the student and “determined that the introductory prayer by an invited veteran during the opening of the program was not consistent with district policy. The district will provide guidance to school principals to preserve compliance to the law while also protecting the constitutional rights of all of our students,” the news release states.
Duplantis said the policy follows laws governing prayer in schools.
The policy states, in part, that “voluntary, student-initiated, student-led prayer” may be permitted, but no student attending the school shall be required to participate in any religious activity at the school.
On Nov. 11, students at Morgan City High School attended an event on school grounds commemorating Veterans Day, which included a Christian prayer led by an adult. Students were instructed to stand and bow their heads. One student who attended the assembly objected to the religious exercise but did not leave the assembly for fear of punishment. The Appignani Humanist Legal Center contacted the school district yesterday on her behalf, according to the organization’s news release.
“Schools should be educating students, not promoting religion,” Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association, said in a news release. “When prayers are led by teachers or administrators, it shows a lack of respect for religious minorities and students with no religion.”
However, the prayers at this particular function were said by the Rev. Thomas Fromenthal, pastor of Cornerstone Ministries and a U.S. Navy veteran of Vietnam. He was contacted Wednesday and confirmed that he did say a prayer at the beginning of the ceremony but did not return calls seeking further comment.
Representatives of the East St. Mary Ministerial Alliance were unable to be reached this morning.