Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee has officially commented on Wednesday’s judicial ruling that the Prayer Banner in Cranston West High School must be removed immediately.
“I agree with it. I agree with his analysis that this is a violation of our constitution,” said Chafee.
Chafee went on to say that the banner represented an obvious violation of separation between church and state.
The Cranston School Committee will decide whether to appeal Judge Ronald R. Lagueux’s ruling next Tuesday.
Chafee also stated that that there is no need for an appeal because it is an open and shut case.
The case against the city of Cranston was brought by the ACLU on behalf of 16-year-old atheist Jessica Ahlquist, who said the banner made her feel excluded.
In his ruling, Lagueux said that Ahlquist “is clearly an articulate and courageous young woman, who took a brave stand, particularly in the light of the hostile response she has received from the community.”
Lagueux went on to argue “no amount of debate can make the School Prayer anything other than a prayer, and a Christian one at that.”
Chafee, an Independent, sparked a minor controversy in November when he decided that “Christmas” was not an inclusive title and renamed the state’s Christmas tree a “holiday tree.”
Click here to read Judge Lagueux's entire decision.
Sources: Cranston Patch; 630wpro.com
Photo: AP
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