Articles labeled: atheism

OK, we’re not exactly champions of religion, but we do believe in free choice. So, we definitely side with the teenager who wanted to go to a Catholic high school, despite his father’s objections. Seems like a judge agrees:

Oldham County family court Judge Tim Feeley said in a ruling published Monday that 14-year-old Michael Ryan can attend St. Xavier High School because that’s where he wants to go.

His divorced parents disagreed over whether their son should go to the religious school, which his mother Susan Bisig wanted.

David Ryan’s lawsuit argued that the state’s Constitution says no one can be “compelled to send his child to any school to which he may be conscientiously opposed.”

Dawn Sherman, daughter of the Chicago area’s most famous atheist Rob Sherman, is challenging in court Illinois’ new mandatory moment of silence law, claiming that the schools forcing kids in a period of “silent prayer or reflection” is unconstitutional:

The Shermans are seeking an injunction that would prevent the observance of a moment of silence in Township High School District 214, which is scheduled to begin the practice Tuesday. They also hope to reverse the statute statewide, said Gregory Kulis, an attorney representing the father and daughter.

“I just don’t want my education to be interrupted,” Dawn Sherman said.

Her father has challenged the use of a cross image on the seals of such municipalities as Rolling Meadows, Palatine and Zion.

“The whole purpose for changing the law is to get more prayer in the public schools and everybody knows it,” Rob Sherman said. “Private business should be done on personal time, not time paid for by the taxpayers.”