ChristiansUnite Forums

Mt. Juliet Update

From Tennessean.com:

    MT. JULIET — At 6:22 p.m. Tuesday, 600 people — some of them complete strangers — held hands, bowed their heads and began to pray.

    “Our Father, who art in heaven.…”

    Bundled up in jackets, hats and scarves, they stood behind Lakeview Elementary School here, determined to send a message that the fight to keep God in public school has just begun.

    The prayer rally, organized by two Mt. Juliet commissioners, drew hundreds, with about 200 stuck in a 1.5-mile traffic jam. The event, which also attracted some local politicians and pastors, took place outside the school recently named in a lawsuit for alleged constitutional violations.

    The Tennessee chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union in late September filed a suit claiming that the Wilson County school district and Lakeview Elementary endorsed and promoted religious activities on campus, crossing the line between church and state.

    But those who came Tuesday night, some of them waving American flags, said it just isn’t so.

    “I am a Christian and think that the ACLU is misguided in its efforts to keep the Praying Parents from meeting at the school,” said Melissa Groome, who has one child at Lakeview now. Two others previously attended the school.

    She referred to a group of parents at the school that meets regularly and prays for the school, students and faculty.

    “I think numbers show support,” Groome said, her three children standing beside her.

I can think of little more fitting response to the ACLUs ongoing attacks against the rights of Christians to participate in our public Schools that this. Non-violent, solemn, calm, and prayerful. I am sure this will not deter the ACLU.

There was some opposing view at the prayer ralley, however.

    Shortly before she and others listened in darkness to local leaders who proclaimed ACLU’s actions futile, two men stood quietly in front of the school building, holding protest signs.

    “I came as a balance to the strong fundamental Christian community,” said Stan Bodner of Mt. Juliet.

    “I am a spiritual person and respect everybody’s right to worship. But they should do this at other places than school and government places that peoples’ taxes support.”

    Some passers-by offered to pray for the men.

The response of this group in Mt. Juliet is what I would expect from a good Christian community. We do not set fires, kill nuns, or burn mosques in uncontrolled rage. Nor do we, to borrow a line from a dead emperor and a live pope, spread our faith by the sword.

It will be interesting to see how the ACLU responds.