Word: prayerful
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...they may have believed themselves to be, yet at the same time no less proud of being Jewish. One image that sticks in my mind is that of my father, himself a lawyer, walking to Jewish High Holy Day services in formal attire, top hat and all, carrying his prayer book in his right hand, for all to see; the iron cross "first class," which he had won in the First World War, pinned to his frock coat. "They wouldn't dare lay a hand on me," he used to say. He turned out to be one of the lucky...
...Given all the problems teenagers have, the group made me feel good." That is how Bridget Mergens explains her attempt five years ago to found a Christian prayer club at Omaha's Westside High School. This week the U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether Westside officials violated the club members' right of free speech by denying them permission to meet after hours on school grounds. Conservatives are hailing the case as their best chance in years to put religion back in the schoolhouse...
...disagrees, insisting that the clubs are in fact curricular extensions. The Supreme Court will now sort out the precise meaning of the act and consider whether it passes constitutional muster. Critics claim that by condoning religious activity in the interest of free speech the statute impermissibly establishes religion and prayer in public schools...
Most experts believe the statute does not cross constitutional boundaries. Says Dean Kelley of the National Council of Churches: "The big difference is who is doing the praying. When a school sponsors the prayer, it is an establishment of religion. But when students want to organize a religion club in extracurricular time, the school should get out of the way." Many parents and educators believe the distinction is not so evident. "In many cases, student religious groups want the sanction of the school and a captive audience to preach to," argues Marc Stern, one of Westside's lawyers...
...Supreme Court has already upheld the principle of equal access at public colleges, and most court watchers believe the high bench will extend it to public high schools. Critics fear that equal access could make it easy for majority prayer groups to dominate the public school environment and create an uncomfortable atmosphere for religious minority students. "The theory is that secondary school students are more impressionable," explains American University law professor Herman Schwartz. Douglas Veith, one of Mergens' attorneys, disagrees. "You can't solve a free-speech issue by suppressing prayer," he says. "Students of all faiths and beliefs should...