Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, October 28, 1993                   TAG: 9310280144
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TODAY'S TOPIC: PRAYER IN SCHOOLS

- Craig Fifer, Roanoke.

Mary Sue Terry:

"Early this summer, I spoke at what we used to call a high school baccalaureate. This year, it was called a `convocation' because of concerns about lawsuits.

"I said then that I felt a sense of loss about the absence of prayer at the ceremony. The chairman of the Republican Party attacked me for saying that, but I still believe it.

"We must respect the rights of each citizen as to whether they want to pray or not. Virginia must follow the dictates of the Supreme Court as to what is permissible and what is not.

"I certainly think, however, that each individual should have the opportunity to pray if they want to do so.

"As for religious clubs using school facilities, I think that each club at a school, religious or not, should be treated equally."

\ George Allen:

"The U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted that the Establishment Clause prohibits teachers or administrators from initiating prayer in schools.

"I do support voluntary, after-hours school prayer or student-initiated prayers, for example, at graduation ceremonies."

Keywords:
POLITICS