TU: PolitiJax: Senate could vote today on prayer at school events

[Patricia M. McBride]

Since when do legislators get to decide about someone's religious freedom?  This is rediculous at a time when amoral behavior is perfectly acceptable!

The Senate is set to vote as early as today on a measure that deeply divides the chamber, allowing school districts to let students lead prayers at public school graduations, football games and other assemblies, as long as adults aren’t involved.

The version of the bill (SB 98) set for a floor vote doesn’t set out any limits on the inspirational message messages that are sectarian, and those that are proselytizing in nature would be OK, drawing the opposition of some Jewish members of the Senate.

“Any inspirational message they want to do,” Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, the sponsor of the bill, said during discussion of the measure on the floor Tuesday.

“Suppose a first grader wants to do an inspirational message to Buddha, to Allah? Who decides who says what?” asked Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood.

The measure has a House companion (HB 317), but it has yet to get a committee hearing there.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2012-02-01/story/politijax-sen...