After more than two years, Lee v Weisman was officially argued in the Supreme Court on the 6 of Novembre, 1991. It was finally decided (at a 5-4 majority) a year later, 24. June. 1992, with Justice Kennedy writing for the majority opinion.
"School Principals in the public school system of the city of Providence, Rhode Island, are permitted to invite members of the clergy to offer invocation and benediction prayers as part of the formal graduation ceremonies for the middle schools and for the high schools. The question is whether including clerical members who offer prayers as part of the official school graduation ceremony is consistent with the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment, provisions the Fourteenth Amendments makes applicable with full force to the States and their school districts." (Raskin).
"School Principals in the public school system of the city of Providence, Rhode Island, are permitted to invite members of the clergy to offer invocation and benediction prayers as part of the formal graduation ceremonies for the middle schools and for the high schools. The question is whether including clerical members who offer prayers as part of the official school graduation ceremony is consistent with the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment, provisions the Fourteenth Amendments makes applicable with full force to the States and their school districts." (Raskin).
"For many years it has been the policy of the Providence School Committee and the Superintendent of Schools to permit principals to invite members of the clergy to give invocations and benedictions at middle school and high school graduations... Acting for himself and his daughter, Deborah's father, Daniel Weisman, objected to any prayers at Deborah's middle school graduation, but to no avail. The school principal, petitioner Robert E. Lee, invited a rabbi to deliver prayers at the graduation exercises for Deborah's class. Rabbi Leslie Gutterman, of the Temple Beth El in Providence, accepted." (Raskin).
Transcript of the Prayer
"God of the Free, Hope of the Brave : For the legacy of America where diversity is celebrated and the rights of minorities are protected, we thank You. May these young men and women grow up to enrich it. For the liberty of America, we thank You. May these new graduates grow up to guard it. For the political process of America in which all its citizens may participate, for its court system where all may seek justice we thank You. May those we honour this morning always turn to it in trust. For the destiny of America, we thank You. May the graduates of Nathan Bishop Middle School so live so that they might help share it. May our aspirations for our country and for these young people, who are our hope for the future, be richly fulfilled. AMEN..." (Raskin). |
"...The District Court held that [the school board's] practice of including invocations and benedictions in public school graduations violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, and it enjoined [the school board] from continuing the practice... On appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed... We recognize that, at graduation time and throughout the course of educational process, there will be instances when religious values, religious practices, and religious persons will have some interaction with the public schools and their students. But these matters, often questions of accommodation of religion, are not before us... No holding by this Court suggests that a school can persuade or compel a student to participate in religious exercise. That is being done here, and it is forbidden by the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. For the reasons we have stated, the judgement of the Court of Appeals is Affirmed." (Raskin).
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” (First Amendment).
-- Establishment Clause, US Constitution.