A lawsuit against a school board member who led Nebraska students in the Lord's prayer at a graduation ceremony has been dismissed. Filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the suit accused the Norfolk Public School District in Lincoln and school board member Jim Scheer of violating the constitutional separation of church and state, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
However, U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp rejected those claims and dismissed the case last month. Jeff Downing, who represented Scheer and the school, hailed the ruling. "I'm glad to see the court recognize that the Constitution doesn't require the public square to be swept clean of religion and that people at public ceremonies should feel tremendous freedom to make religious comments...or comments that are in keeping with their faith," he said.
Camp ruled that Scheer was acting in his personal capacity as a parent when he recited the prayer at the May 14, 2000, ceremony. "In reaching this conclusion, the court does not approve [of] Scheer's conduct," the judge wrote. "Scheer took advantage of his dual role as a board member and parent of a graduating senior."
Scheer's prayer came not long after the school board decided to end the tradition of student-led prayer at graduation because a complaint had been filed with the school district. The school announced that the scheduled prayer had been removed from the program. Scheer was allowed to speak, however, and led the students in prayer, the AP reported. The ACLU plans to appeal Camp's ruling.