In Theory:

First and foremost, I am troubled by the constant infringement on religion that is occurring as a result of ACLU lawsuits and the associated misreading of the First Amendment. Religion has been and is an important component of our society. At the same time, as religious individuals, we have an obligation not to force our beliefs on others when they are not wanted. Moreover, we have an obligation to follow the law, even if we don’t agree with it.

As I understand it, the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the school district about the promotion of religion in the school system. The lawsuit resulted in a consent decree agreed to by both the ACLU and the school district, which provided that district and school officials were “permanently prohibited from promoting, advancing, endorsing, participating in or causing prayers during or in conjunction with school events.”

Apparently, the school principal was a party to the lawsuit, and his attorney was among those approving the consent decree. The court required that all district employees receive a copy of the decree.

The prayer at issue came after the issuance of the decree. These two individuals are facing criminal (vs. civil) contempt for violating a court order, which could result in jail time up to six months and a fine of up to $5,000.

Although a prayer on the food should be a noncontroversial event, in this instance, it was a direct violation of a court order. Was this an innocent mistake by the principal, or was it a calculated risk that he took? I can’t answer that. However, he knew about the order and violated it.

In such instances, a warning from the court should be warranted for a first offense. No matter, criminal penalties seem far too harsh for such an act.

BISHOP FRED L. CARPENTER

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints