La. School Prayer Law Is Struck Down

A federal judge on Wednesday struck down a Louisiana law that allows public schools to set aside time for prayer.

A 1976 law initially allowed for silent meditation. It was amended in 1992 to include the word “prayer” and again last year to remove the word “silent.”

The change to verbal prayer amounted to an unconstitutional endorsement of religion by the Legislature, Judge Robert James ruled Wednesday.

“The court recognized in its decision that the Louisiana Legislature cannot authorize the prayers of the majority to be foisted upon nonbelievers,” said Ayesha Khan, an attorney for Washington, D.C.-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which joined the American Civil Liberties Union in challenging the law.

The ruling stemmed from the case of Doe vs. Ouachita Parish School Board, filed by the mother of a ninth-grader at West Monroe High School, about 30 miles south of the Arkansas border. The woman, identified only as Jane Doe, contended in the lawsuit that other students had made fun of her son and another boy who did not participate in prayer activities, taunting them and calling them “atheist” and “devil worshiper.”

State lawyers argued that the law specifically states it is neutral toward religion, but the judge dismissed the argument.

“This statute cannot help but create the appearance that the state of Louisiana is endorsing religion since the state has created a venue for public prayer in public facilities under the supervision of public officials,” the ruling said.

A spokesman for Gov. Mike Foster said he could not comment because his staff had not reviewed the ruling. It was not immediately clear whether the state would appeal.