NATION IN BRIEF : UTAH : Lawsuit Challenges Prayers at School

A lawsuit filed in federal court in Salt Lake City challenged official praying at public schools. Prayers at graduation ceremonies and other school-sponsored activities violate freedom of religion and the guaranteed separation of church and state, according to the suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of four students, a teacher and a counselor. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1962 banned daily prayer rituals at public schools. The ACLU’s suit cites less frequent school-sanctioned prayer. If the ACLU wins, all 40 school districts in Utah would be affected.