FFRF has remedied unconstitutional Christian proselytization at a South Carolina high school.
In December, Fox Creek High School in Columbia, S.C., held an assembly for all boys in the school in response to vandalism incidents. A school janitorial staff member — who is also a minister — spoke during the assembly and led all students in a long Christian prayer. The prayer was allegedly offered “in Jesus Christ’s name” and made specific reference to a bible passage relating to spreading god’s word. The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down school-sponsored prayer time and again.
FFRF Senior Counsel Patrick Elliott wrote to South Carolina Public School District on Dec. 27, reminding it of its constitutional obligation to refrain from advancing or endorsing religion. On March 5, an attorney for the district responded informing FFRF that the principal of the school had reviewed the legal issues related to prayer in public schools with school staff and made a commitment that unconstitutional prayer would not be permitted in the future.
