Calendar . Volume 08 | Issue 09

Volume 08, Issue 09

As we move toward Memorial Day and the celebration of the 4th of July, you might find these stories alarming, sad and most of all indicative that we are living in a postmodern, post-Christian culture. Our failure to be salt and light has resulted in society now dictating we stay in the shaker and leave our light off.   According to FOX News, “An Ohio middle school teacher says he won’t obey an order to remove a Bible from view of students. John Freshwater said Wednesday he agreed to remove a collage from his classroom that included the Ten Commandments, but that asking him to remove the Bible on his desk goes too far. Officials with the Mount Vernon School District say they don’t oppose religion but are required by the U.S. Constitution not to promote or favor any set of religious beliefs. Freshwater says being forced to keep the Bible out of sight would infringe on his rights.”

The Newark Star-Ledger reports that a federal appeals court has ruled the East Brunswick school board was within its rights to tell football coach Marcus Borden he cannot kneel and bow his head as members of his team have a student-led pre-game prayer. The ruling from the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia reversed a lower-court ruling made almost two years ago. The judges agreed the policy barring school staff from joining in student-led was constitutional, but differed on what exactly a coach should do when his team prays. Borden has coached the team since 1983. He used to be deeply involved in team prayers, and for a while even led them. But in 2005 school officials received complaints that he was leading prayers and asked him to stop. Ronald Riccio, Borden’s attorney, commented, “The supreme court should hear this case because so far, there have been four judges who rendered an opinion that’s different from the other’s decision… This is primed for the supreme court.”