ACLU sues Santa Rosa County over school prayers
Santa Rosa County school administrators have "persistently and pervasively" promoted their religious beliefs to students, the ACLU alleges in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday.
The American Civil Liberties Union has sued the school district, county School Superintendent John Rogers and Pace High School principal Frank Lay on behalf of two Pace students and their parents.
Students at Pace "not only face overt compulsion to adopt the religious beliefs of school officials, but also must contend with subtle coercive pressures to conform their religious beliefs to those favored by school officials," the lawsuit claims.
The suit seeks to forbid school officials from "sponsoring, facilitating or promoting" prayer at school functions, including graduation.
It also calls for an end to school sponsored events being held at places of worship and a ban on religious baccalaureate services altogether.
The lawsuit calls for the court to halt "school officials and others" from "unconstitutionally endorsing or coercing religion."
It calls for "nominal damages, attorneys' fees and expenses."
