Dear Editor:
I am writing to express my opposition to the current legislation before the Illinois Senate - House Bill 4117, the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act. I totally disagree with this legislation, which would allow students in the public schools to voluntarily engage in student-initiated prayer. It shouldn't go any further for several reasons.
One, it claims that student-initiated prayer is consistent with church-state separation. What I fail to understand is how this new legislation is consistent with the concept of church-state separation? How can the state enact legislation concerning a religious practice that is in itself a violation of church-state separation? In addition, the last sentence of Section 3 of the Bill of Rights to the Illinois Constitution states "... nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship." Any prayer, whether silent or aloud, is a mode of worship. If this bill is passed, it will be in violation of the Illinois Constitution.
This bill also seems to be biased against anyone who is not a Protestant or Christian because, in my experience, it is only Protestants who make public displays of prayer. What about people who are not of the Protestant majority, such as Jews, Muslims, Freethinkers and Atheists, like myself? I feel that the free exercise of religion by the religious majority infringes upon the freedom of and from religion for the minority, especially in a setting such as a public school in which attendance is mandatory.
We already have legislation guaranteeing religious liberty and freedom to all residents of the State of Illinois, it's called the Bill of Rights. Please do not support House Bill 4117.
Jonathan Brennan
senior, aviation management
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
