Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!genrad!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!ariel!houti!hogpc!houxm!ihnp4!ihuxi!rcj1 From: rcj1@ihuxi.UUCP Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Re: School prayer Message-ID: <476@ihuxi.UUCP> Date: Tue, 28-Jun-83 12:40:29 EDT Article-I.D.: ihuxi.476 Posted: Tue Jun 28 12:40:29 1983 Date-Received: Wed, 29-Jun-83 19:43:52 EDT Lines: 42 I don't mean to re-kindle old fires but I thought this might be interesting to someone out there... The Reagan administration Monday formally endorsed a constitutional amendment restoring voluntary prayer to the classroom and said it "is not enough" to settle for merely allowing silent classroom prayer and voluntary religiious meetings. The administrations proposal would read: Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to prohibit individual of group prayer in public schools or other public institutions. No person shall be required by the United States or by any state to participate in prayer." The alternative supported by a few Senators and others would allow silent prayer and meditation during class time and the "equal access" right of students to meet voluntarily for Bible study or prayer at school during non-class hours.. Interesting enough, the following opposed the proposal: Rev. Dean M. Kelly of the National Council of Churches of Christ, Baptist Joint Committee on Public affairs, Washington office of the Episcopal Church, B'nai B'rith, National Council of Jewish Women, General Conference of Seventh Day Adventists, American Jewish Committee, and Union of American Hebrew Congregations. P.S. I might add that the Rev. Dean M. Kelly was quoted as saying: "Children can now engage in silent prayer or meditation in public schools or anywhere else. They do not need the permission of the U.S. Supreme Court, the president, the Congress or all the state legislatures in the land." Ray, ihuxi!rcj1