Ind. High School Student Who Complained About Coercive Prayer Told To Be More Cooperative

[Panich52]

Americans United blog

Blame The Victim Much?: Ind. High School Student Who Complained About Coercive Prayer Told To Be More Cooperative

It is apparent that the entire bureaucracy at River Forest is actively excluding anyone who is not Christian. There seem to be multiple constitutional violations occurring there frequently – and it seems the school has no tolerance for anyone who won’t fall in line.

When the parents of an Indiana high school sophomore complained that their son was subjected to coercive prayers at multiple school events, officials were less than sympathetic to the family’s First Amendment concerns.

To say the family’s protest fell on deaf ears would be far too generous. In fact, one school administrator went so far as to blame the student for not accepting the sectarian messages in silence.  

Jim and Nichole Bellar’s son, known as “J.B” in court documents, said in a lawsuit filed this week by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana that multiple coaches at River Forest Junior/Senior High School lead their teams in prayer before most practices and games. Jesus and God are typically mentioned.

When J.B. brought his concern about the sectarian activity to his coaches, they didn’t seem to care.  He was simply told to be quiet during invocations, the lawsuit alleges.

The situation only worsened when the Bellars met with school administrators, who suggested that J.B. make an effort to be more cooperative with his coaches.

According to the lawsuit, the Bellars’ daughter, who has since graduated, had a similar experience when she played sports at River Forest.  

More
https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/blame-the-victim-much-ind-high-school-student-who-complained-about-coercive


x p Interfaith

[Hoppy]

1. How do they expect the teams to win if they don't have Jesus helping the coaches?

Last edited Sun Jun 14, 2015, 10:20 AM - Edit history (1)

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. Exactly! The power of HEY, ZEUS is known through the ages.

[mountain grammy]

3. Because it's important for every team and coach to have "god" on their side

like old Denny Hastert, that blessed wrestling coach who thought he was a priest so it was OK.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. That headline was kind.

What is should have said is "HS student who complained about coercive prayer told to STFU".

I think many of us have been there. In fact, I was there at the last county Dem meeting that I attended....when I requested that they refrain from the prayers at the beginning of the meeting, I was told that I was the only one who had a problem, so the problem must be me. That was about five years ago. I do not go to the county meetings these days.

[Panich52]

8. Agree on headline, but remember, head of AU is a reverend. ...

Your experience at meetings is far too typical. The SCOTUS decision in Greece, NY case made participation in democratic functions an affront to many.

[onager]

5. More cooperative = BOHICA

n/t

[nil desperandum]

10. Nice ACRONYM!!

All too familiar with that one...

[AwakeAtLast]

6. As an Indiana resident

I'm not surprised.

Now with the RFRA, I don't know how this will play out. I will be keeping tabs on this one. Thanks for posting!

[Panich52]

9. YW. Might look up AU's IN chapter f/ more info.

[LostOne4Ever]

7. And this is why when I complained about having to go to Baccalaureate

[font style="font-family:'Georgia','Baskerville Old Face','Helvetica',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]and was told "its fine, its non-denominational" I kept my mouth shut.

Zealots have no issues forcing their religion down your throat, but ask them to treat you as a human being then they will act like THEY are the victims while simultaneously trying to scare/intimidate you into acquiescence.[/font]