A Mississippi public school district recently moved its back-to-school prayer service from an elementary school after a national secularist group claimed that the practice was unconstitutional.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent a letter to the Ocean Springs School District after learning that the district had partnered with a number of area churches for the community-wide event.
Ocean Springs superintendent Bonita Coleman received the letter Monday afternoon requesting the event, which was scheduled for the next day, be cancelled.
"It does not matter that individuals within the community prefer this type of event, it is still illegal for the school to host and cannot be allowed to take place," the letter penned by attorney Rebecca S. Markert on behalf of the group.
The district decided to move the event from the elementary school to First Baptist Church of Oak to avoid a potential legal battle, reports the Mississippi Press.
Coleman intended to participate, but the FFRF objected to that as well.
"The event is school-sponsored and school-promoted," Markert wrote. "Indeed you, as superintendent, are promoting the religious ritual. It does not matter that this event occurs outside normal school hours because prayers at other after-school events such as football games and graduations have been found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.," it read.
"It is well-settled that a public school employee may not lead, direct or encourage students to engage in prayer," the letter said.
Coleman told the Mississippi Press that although the event was moved to a church she wouldn't participate.
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