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

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.

Jessica Ahlquist Wins Prayer Banner Lawsuit Against Cranston High School West

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.

Watch more videos


Comments (892)

1 ... 5 6 7 8 9 ... 19
  • vaman
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:47pm

    Good for her. She stood up for something she believed in. That’s the American way, isn’t it? No one is taking religion from anyone. Religious schools have all of the prayers in the world located in them. Parents can always send their children to one of those. No one should be getting so upset about this. It’s not some made-up war on religion, just a common sense gesture. It’s a public place. If that prayer goes back up, I want a prayer to satan right beside it, but that might just be offend to a few of you, who would demand it come down.

    Report Post »  
  • mjala
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:46pm

    “Additionally, she claims that it has made her feel ostracized and, thus, she has petitioned fervently for its removal.”

    Wow. A banner on a wall makes her feel ostracized. You have to feel sorry for her that paper on a wall will give her such feelings. Maybe Savage was right all along… Liberalism is a mental disorder!

    Report Post »  
    • gemmeri
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 2:24pm

      Okay, so notices coming home from school give me a headache & I think they should be stopped because they are causing me actual physical anguish. The idea of report cards has me feeling nervous & unhealthy & I want the ACLU to represent me in having this persecution of parents of school aged children stopped. Not to mention the waste of paper & cutting down of trees to produce it & the dyes that probably get dumped into our waterways as pollution. I mean what about the rights of the fish involved here, too? In fact, let’s just close down all the schools right now & stop all this wasted effort.

      Report Post »  
  • SHIPMONEY100TRILLION
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:46pm

    Her Donkey D now is ready for her to celebrate with.

    Report Post »  
  • SHIPMONEY100TRILLION
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:45pm

    Good for her! Now she can go do a donkey to celebrate.

    Report Post »  
  • SnowKalBebes
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:45pm

    Keep religion out of schools and politics. Stop the hypocrisy!

    Report Post »  
  • GoodStuff
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:45pm

    Dear Blaze,

    Can you please get rid of the pathetic ad on your site where some chick has an avocado sticking out of her cleavage?! Glenn Beck = family values.

    Report Post »  
  • BigWhiteMan
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:44pm

    I’m tempted to file suit every time I see a picture of Woodrow Wilson, T.R. or FDR in a public building. Yeah, they may just be there for historical reasons but the progressive ideas that they represent frighten me. I don‘t want to be reminded that there are people around me who might have a difference of opinion and I don’t think my government should openly display icons of hatred against people like me who believe in small government and individual rights.

    Report Post » BigWhiteMan  
  • Balpit
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:44pm

    Let’s see how offensive this prayer banner REALLY is…

    “Grant us each day the desire to do our best.”
    (Quite insulting to those who desire to do their worst.)

    “To grow mentally and morally as well as physically.”
    (And what about those who want to SHRINK mentally, morally, and physically, huh?)

    “To be kind and helpful to our classmates and teachers.”
    (This line practically encourages another school shooting.)

    “To be honest with ourselves as well as with others.”
    (Clearly discriminatory to pathological liars.)

    “Help us to be good sports and smile when we lose as well as when we win.”
    (She wouldn’t be smiling if she had lost this case, and she’d be appalled at the idea of doing so. She probably found this line the most offensive of all.)

    “Teach us the value of true friendship.”
    (Friendship! How hateful!)

    “Help us always to conduct ourselves so as to bring credit to Cranston High School West.”
    (Bring credit to the SCHOOL? What about me, myself and I: her three favorite people?)

    Well, Jessica Ahlquist, always do your worst. Don’t grow mentally, morally, or physically. Be unkind and unhelpful to classmates and teachers. Be dishonest even to yourself. Be a bad sport whether you win or lose. Never learn the true value of friendship. But most importantly, never conduct yourself in such a way that your school would get credit. I suggest you do all this, because if I suggested you do the opposite, you‘d think I’m pushing religio

    Report Post »  
  • UseReasonNotMagic
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:44pm

    I find her courage inspiring. I wanted to post this on my facebook wall, but i don’t have the balls this girl does.

    Report Post »  
  • SHIPMONEY100TRILLION
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:44pm

    She can will now, no doubt, go F a Donkey to celebrate.

    Report Post »  
  • kfalcon22000
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:43pm

    I can’t believe how many of you have no concept of American history. Church services were held in Congress as well as at the White House. First of all, the 1st amendment says that Congress cannot make a law that would give preferential treatment to one denomination over the others, as well as saying that Congress cannot make a law that in anyway prohibits the free exercise of anyone’s religion. Congressmen used to come to the floor and read something they found in the bible. Then they would discuss it, vote on it, and put it into law. The Congressional record is full of these instances.

    Would someone kindly tell me where it says that you have the right to not be offended? If you are offended by someone else s religion or culture then America is not the place for you. Our differences is what made us strong. This desire to remove our differences has been making us weaker. Where do you think we are, Nazi Germany?

    Report Post »  
  • svtp
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:42pm

    Is everyone crazy? Where doe it sight Jesus Christ? It only talks of our heavenly Father – which can mean whatever you want it to be. Plus the writer of this story clearly does not the meaning of Amen, which is used in the secular world. But the bigger picture here is the Government roll of determining what is “religious” and what is not, and thus by that very nature it is the Government, not the school that is violating the first amendment. According the her complaint, do we now get an “offensive standard”? Like many have said, I am deeply offended by many things, but that gives me no right to force its removal. The final oxymoron is that the “government” school is a monopoly, if a person can not afford a private one. Therefore, by this misguided and damned soul forcing this mural removed, has just offended and disrupted many others first amendment rights – the of free speech, which is clearly what the creator of this did back in the 60′s. This judge was not insightful, but then again secular humanists are not.

    Report Post »  
  • SHIPMONEY100TRILLION
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:42pm

    Good for her! Now she can go F a donkey to celebrate.

    Report Post »  
  • AquaBuddha
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:42pm

    More national disintegration caused by activist so called judges.

    Report Post »  
  • cja23
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:41pm

    This is disgusting in the “United States of America”. Why are we putting up with this? Don’t be wimps, make a stand for what you believe in. Christianity is under attack in this country. Don’t let the few destroy our faith and our country. Stop this before it’s too late.

    Report Post »  
  • donedunn
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:41pm

    How does it offend? Because it mentions Heavenly Father? Or is it because it is a call to clean, honest living?

    The answer is it doesn’t offend. It is been there for 40 years and is part of the school history. This is the same mentality that led to the Taliban blowing up the ancient statues because they weren’t in line with Islam.

    Report Post »  
  • freestaterev
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:40pm

    Wow, what a terrible thing to have hanging in a school- a “prayer” mural encouraging students to “be kind and helpful to our students and teachers…to be honest with ourselves as well as others…”

    The level of ignorance and outright self-absorbed nonsense that is happening among us is nauseating. Prayers like this are being taken out of our schools, and then the same people who fight against it, can’t understand why we have bullying, hate, and violence.

    They will reap what they sow…and that crop will be full of rotten fruit.

    Report Post » freestaterev  
  • SFsuper49er
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:40pm

    Why is it the Atheists Always win these battles in the northern states… The state government up there must really suck… It’s also where the gun laws are the most strict. All liberals should pack and move there and leave true southerners the *ell alone .

    Report Post »  
  • perry1980
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:40pm

    Another Liberal raised child who is seeking attention.
    We should all be asking the following question: Why do the needs and wishes of the few outweigh the desires of the many.

    Report Post »  
  • chuck4616
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:38pm

    she will stand up for the constitution but will not say the pladge of allegiance. LOL Wow!

    Report Post » chuck4616  
  • Kitkarr
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:37pm

    The banner is obviously supporting a Christian religious belief and practice, so those who are denying that are either ignorant or flat out liars. The important question is, who cares? One girl in a school of hundreds, most likely thousands, if you count everyone that has attended since 1963 when it was written. The smallest voice seems to be the loudest so far in this situation.

    Its also interesting to see that “The government must not appear to take sides on issues of religious beliefs.” Well, it “appears” that at the very least, a judge has taken a side on at least one issue concerning religious beliefs. And I seem to remember our current President announcing that “We are not a Christian nation.” Sounds like government has taken a side to me.

    I guess now that the huge Christian prayer banner isn’t staring her in the face, she won’t have to be reminded on a daily basis of her one and only need. The eternal athiest motto – “Outta sight, outta mind.” I would pray that that is true for her sake, but i choose to pray in a slightly different manner.

    Report Post » Kitkarr  
  • atombomb
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:35pm

    Good. Your magical space warlock has no place in an institution of learning. I hope you enjoy watching your children become atheists.

    Report Post » atombomb  
  • THXll38
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:32pm

    Hey moron judge and secular little girl — It’s freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.

    Report Post » THXll38  
  • moreteaplease
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:32pm

    bigfatslob
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 11:15am

    Burn this witch @ the stake.
    bigfatslob Log in to Reply

    encinom
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:01pm

    Love the peaceful relgious response.
    ************************************************

    This is not a Christian response. Whatever judgement befalls her will be decided by God alone. Even though her actions make me clinch my jaw, I have to remember that Jesus said ” if the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.

    As true Christians, we are to love the sinner and hate the sin. I know how hard that can be to do but it becomes a little easier when I stop and remember that though I have Gods salvation, I am still a sinner and no better than anyone else. That will all change only when we are given a new body and new spirit that is incorruptible.

    Report Post » moreteaplease  
  • Bill Burns
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:30pm

    Captain Oborrow will be delighted.

    Report Post » Bill Burns  
1 ... 5 6 7 8 9 ... 19

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now