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Fed Judge Sides With Teen Atheist & Orders Public School to Remove Prayer Mural

Jan. 12, 2012 11:12am Billy Hallowell

Jessica Ahlquist Wins Prayer Banner Lawsuit Against Cranston High School West

Jessica Ahlquist (left) (Photo Credit: AP)

A federal judge has ruled in favor of a teenage atheist whose fight for the removal of a prayer mural in her public high school in Cranston, Rhode Island, has attracted national attention.

Jessica Ahlquist, 16, who was represented by the Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, was elated on Wednesday when her lawsuit against Crayton city and officials at Cranston High School West came to a close. In the ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Lagueux said that the school must remove the banner immediately. Additionally, he decided that legal fees should be provided to the plaintiff.

Ahlquist’s main argument in the case has been that a prayer mural present in her school’s auditorium is offensive to non-Christians. Additionally, she claims that it has made her feel ostracized and, thus, she has petitioned fervently for its removal.

Here’s a news report from April 2011, during which Ahlquist discusses her opposition to the mural:

The banner, she contends, promotes religion. But city officials have argued that the mural plays an important role in the school’s history and that it is, in fact, an artifact worthy of being displayed.

Officials maintain that the prayer serves no religious purpose and that it merely encourages students to work hard academically. It does, as the Associated Press notes, begin with “Our Heavenly Father” and end with “Amen” — elements obviously associated with religious prayer.

Photo Credit: WPRO News Talk

In his decision Lagueux said, “The purpose of the prayer banner was clearly religious in nature” and he also said, “No amount of debate can make the school Prayer anything other than a prayer, and a Christian one at that.” He went on to state that the presence of the prayer was essentially a governmental endorsement of religion, reiterating his believe that, “The Government must not appear to take sides on issues of religious beliefs.”

Watch Ahlquist address the banner in a talk to the Secular Student Alliance in 2011:

Cranston School Committeeman Frank Lombardi, who had voted in support of the banner and who believed it truly was more secular in nature, voiced his disappointment with the ruling. “I really believe the purpose of this banner was more traditional in nature, more secular in nature, it wasn’t to promote any sort of religion or anything like that,” he said in an interview with the Matt Allen Show (listen here).

“I am upset, disappointed and not to say, outraged,” said David Bradley, who penned the prayer when he was in seventh grade in 1963. “It’s a shame that some judge with an appointment out of a Cracker Jack box can make a ruling like that.”

Ahlquist, though, couldn’t have been happier. She took to her Twitter account to voice her excitement over the decision:

Jessica Ahlquist Wins Prayer Banner Lawsuit Against Cranston High School West

City officials have 10 days to respond to the decision. They have not yet decided if they will appeal.

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Comments (894)

Gonzo
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:19pm
Jessica sounds like a future leader in the Democrat party.

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- Dr. Joel Fleischman
  Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:10pm
  Another Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the making.
  
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ImJusSayin
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:19pm
What a sad young lady. I will pray for her soul.

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closedgonefishing
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:19pm
THIS is part of the reason I moved my famly to rural Arkansas 10 years ago.Our schools still salute the flag,have open prayer and CHRISTMAS.No metal detectors just a wooden paddle and my three boys all graduated.

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Quandary
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:19pm
Maybe I didnt get the memo. But at what point did I earn the right to not be offended?

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- ScribblerG
  Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:55pm
  Of course, you have no right to not be offended, but you do have a right to not have government owned and run institutions support or oppose religiosity in any way. Are you so effing stupid that you cannot understand the difference?
  
  Report this comment
- Dr. Joel Fleischman
  Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:11pm
  Encinom: talking about yourself again?
  
  Report this comment
mbjb412
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:18pm
If you don’t believe in something, then how does it offend you? I don’t believe in santa but I’m not offended by seeing one displayed. She got her 15 minutes of infamy. Next she’ll be on some talk show talking about how she is made fun of or bullied at school and we should all feel sorry for her. You reap what you sow. God bless her and her family.

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thegreatcarnac
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:16pm
The constitution did not say what libtrash says it does. It simply said that there could not be a state church like the Church of England was the official church in England or the Catholic church was the official church of Spain. The state church system would not be part of America. The liberals like to talk about ‘intent’ but they ignore the ‘intent; of the constitution when it comes to religion. it said freedom of religion not from it. The founding fathers never intended America to be anything but Christian.

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caveman74
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:14pm
this school has attacked my religion and its civil liberties. I want to hire the ACLU to represent me in a discrimination suite against the school

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wbedding
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:14pm
maybe i should counter sue because the removal of this banner offends me. just following their logic in the case. we are producing a nation of wimps and filthy rich lawyers and ACLU lobbyists. we will reap what we sow.

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encinom
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:12pm
Tell me: If a religious person (denomination/faith not a factor) says a private prayer before lunch and is mocked by others, can that person feel the same and file a lawsuit in Federal court and win the same ruling?
______________________________
Actually the answer is it depends on the situation, I know you poor little Christians want to claim the mantlehood of victimhood. The issue is what did the school know, did the school encourage or do nothing about a hostile environment.

Of course, here we have a State agency creating a pray for public display, a text book example of a violation of the Establishmnet clause.

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- UpstateNYConservative
  Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:40pm
  @Encinom
  
  If you’re going to quote me, why not respond to me directly? I can’t always answer speedily because of my work schedule, but I assure I’m not looking for an argument. I remain, however, willing to engage an honest debate without political ramifications being a constant factor.
  
  My (short version) point, in this matter, is that a child should be seen and not heard. Realistically, Encinom–what did you or me or anyone else know at age 16? (we thought we knew everything, didn’t we?)
  
  My view–politics and religion (or lack thereof aside)–this was a bone of contention that need not have been picked. I hold a general view of live-and-let-live–that ‘tolerance’ for which liberals always call.
  
  Really–I won’t be ‘offended’ if a display was made for Ramadan in the foyer of my City Hall. Yet, atheists/anti-theists go nuts for a Christmas creche.
  
  Again–politics and religion aside: What the devil (hint, hint) is up with that?
  
  Politely,
  Me
  
  Report this comment
steffienewshound
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:12pm
Hey Jessica? When you’re dancing inches from your death bed, I’d like to know who you’re going to turn to for reassurance and guidance!! You are a disgrace, your parents are a disgrace. They raised a selfish media whore who wants to live off of someone else’s money! If you didn’t like the prayer, you didn’t have to look at it stupid! What’s more, you could have changed schools if you were that “offended!” You and your parents should be shunned in society, in your neighborhood, your school, everywhere!! I hope you rot and I hope the person you call out to for comfort is GOD!!

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John1863
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:10pm
Time for someone to be smacked around at recess.

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CHRYSOSTOM
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:09pm
This “proud” child has no idea what she is
heaping upon herself… Pray for Her…

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Clean Patriot
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:09pm
What an idiot judge they have in Rhode Island. I’m offended by the judge, this girl and the ACLU. I want then all removed from the school.

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sapper
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:09pm
@hydra.

When we went to war I was surprised to see all of my atheist fellow soldiers asking about God, requesting Bibles and you know what. When we were under fire they found religion real quick. Drop an atheist in the middle of nowhere and watch how fast they try to get ahold of the magic sky man as they put it.

The rest of you just ignore this imbicile. You cannot reason with someone devoid of common sense and/or intelligence.

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Mahakala
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:09pm
Anyone know the email and phone number of this ******* judge? Time to let this fool how we feel.

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forthepeople
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:08pm
Why do these people care what is on the wall ? walk on by and get on with living ones life .

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legendarytwo
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:08pm
Another useful idiot. Maybe she can call on Harry, Nancy or Barry to save her. Who would want to be in the same boat with those champions of morality or any other godless person for that matter? Oh yea, she will be begging for God to help her miserable situation one day.

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AJAYW
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:07pm
Did they make place for the muslims to put their prayer rugs– Bet obama and holder ensures them the right

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AmericanStrega
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:07pm
Maybe she wants to be the next “Snookey”? (not sure of the spelling, just know “Snookey” is a dumb-jack-knob on some t.v. show).

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Kerri g
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:06pm
One more time, there is no seperation of church and state in this country, in the law or the constitution.
This ruling goes directly against the constitution by impeeding christians rights.
So you don’t like that prayer on the wall. Well missy, you are not the only person on this planet or in that school. If you don’t like it don’t look at the damn thing. Stupid.

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Clean Patriot
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:05pm
I am offended too that this aethist is attending a school where she does not want to be kind and helpful to her fellow students and teachers. I feel ostrizised and want this girl and the ACLU removed from the school.

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countryfirst
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:04pm
If you don’t like it don’t look at it.

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Jobeycool
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:00pm
Statue of Moses in the Supreme Court,bible verses all over the place in Wahsinton D.C.How in the world do these atheist not understand American history. Anyone with common sense would understand it has christian history all over the place.

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UpstateNYConservative
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:00pm
Awwww! The ‘prayer’ made her ‘feel ostracized’. Poor widdle beebee!

Tell me: If a religious person (denomination/faith not a factor) says a private prayer before lunch and is mocked by others, can that person feel the same and file a lawsuit in Federal court and win the same ruling?

(hint: no)

Just another case of one person’s ‘tender’ feelings imposing him-/herself on everyone else. Most kids probably didn’t care either way about the placard, but now this ‘offended’ pretentious little girl started a row that need not have been engaged.

I just find it all silly, really; live and let live. But NO–can’t have that! Maybe we need a new class in America: The Perpetually Offended. Maybe they can claim a disability like Greece just basically legitimized pedophilia. Maybe, too, this bratty child can get cash for her efforts.

More than the brat, what are her parents like? They’re worse than their kid.

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- UpstateNYConservative
  Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:11pm
  To add more, the kid has an agenda. But I wonder: How does she feel about polarizing and entire school just for herself? How does she feel that, maybe, friends stopped being friends over this? Is it a good thing that families maybe got into arguments over this matter; does she ‘feel’ better for causing strife?
  
  Crybabies like this are a bane on society. This isn’t anything like a black person being denied a job because he/she is dark-skinned, so don’t any of you libs waste time writing that is somehow is.
  
  I hope all her classmates truly ostracize her, for the likely interpersonal damage she has wrought among families and between friends just because she has an agenda fired by her ‘tender’ feelings.
  
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AmericanBumpkin
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 11:59am
i have an idea, if any state organization wants to recognize religion why not just posts excerpts from other religious practiced in the US from texts or quotes from religious or phylisophical leaders.
this way they could show “pride in deversity” or something and no one could complain about picking favorites, and schools could use it to promote the educational benefit of teaching students multicultural studies and humanities.

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