GOP Congressional Candidate Defends Cranston School Prayer
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Republican Congressional candidate Mark Zaccaria yesterday defended the controversial prayer displayed in a Cranston high school and called on both Republican and Democratic leaders to oppose a possible lawsuit from the state affiliate of the ACLU.
“What has become of this country when an innocuous banner which asks students to strive to do their best somehow infringes on someone’s Constitutional rights?” said Zaccaria, who is running for the Second District seat. “The ACLU is bullying a school district into striking down a banner that is grounded in faith and encourages students to be good citizens through action and humility. This is an abomination and a cynical use of the courts to no useful end.”
The prayer begins with “Heavenly Father” and ends with “Amen.” In between those two words, are non-religious exhortations to maintain discipline, integrity, and respect for others. The prayer is painted on the wall of Cranston West High School and has been a fixture of the auditorium for half a century
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“Whose rights are being violated?” Zaccaria said. “Apparently, the only people upset are the lawyers who are eager to make a case to placate a narrow-minded group whose whole purpose in life is to destroy the fabric of the country.”
He called on the ACLU to refrain from suing the district so it wouldn’t be sagged with thousands of dollars in legal fees, noting that the district is already facing a $6 million budget shortfall.
