THE SUPREME COURT HAS REFUSED TO INTERFERE WITH A VIRGINIA LAW REQUIRING A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

From Page 1 News
Oct. 30, 2001

The Supreme Court has refused to interfere with a Virginia law requiring a moment of silence in the commonwealth's public schools.

The Justices rejected a challenge to that law, dashing the hopes of the ACLU, which argued against it.

They say the law was "enacted specifically to facilitate and encourage school prayer."

The Virginia law, however, says students may meditate, pray, or do whatever they want for one minute, as long as they keep quiet. They must be silent, but they are not required to pray, and therefore, state congressmen were confident the law did not abridge the Constitution's "establishment of religion" clause.

The American Center for Law and Justice, which defended the Virginia law in court, issued a statement saying it was very pleased with the Supreme Court's action.

Jay Sekulow, the ACLJ's chief counsel, predicted that other states may now follow Virginia's lead by adopting similar "moment of silence" laws.

Family Research Council President Ken Connor said "Other state legislatures should copy Virginia's statute. Whether it's a minute kids spend in meditation, prayer, or any other silent activity, it should be helpful in setting the right tone for the school day."