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

DATE: FRIDAY, June 9, 1995                   TAG: 9506090097
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOL PRAYER ARGUED

House Democrats clashed with Republicans on Thursday over a proposed constitutional amendment on school prayer that has been eagerly sought by religious conservatives.

Rep. Ernest Istook, R-Okla., testifying at a House subcommittee hearing, urged adoption of an amendment guaranteeing a right to religious expression in public. He was immediately challenged by several Democrats on the panel, who said such an amendment was unnecessary and could be used to impose religious practices and beliefs.

The Republicans haven't formally introduced legislation for an amendment, but they have started a push for it. The GOP was thwarted earlier this year in efforts to enact constitutional amendments requiring a balanced federal budget and limiting congressional terms.

``Unfortunately, despite the freedoms enshrined in our Constitution, millions of Americans today believe their freedom of religion, and of religious expression, is endangered,'' Istook told the House Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution.

``From classroom prayer, the court restrictions on religious expression have expanded. ... Now our courts are clogged with students begging to offer their own prayers at graduation.''

Istook cited recent Supreme Court decisions banning prayers at public school graduations and federal government policies prohibiting employees from displaying religious symbols in the workplace.

But Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., told Istook: ``we do not need a constitutional amendment to protect the right of a student to say a prayer'' during free time. ``What people are seeking is [to use] ... compulsory school attendance to expose children to religion.''

Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., wanted to know what sort of prayer would result from the amendment. Serrano asked Istook if it would involve, for example, ``a Jewish teacher having to pray to Jesus.''

Istook said the prayers ``would vary from day to day, from place to place, because there is a diversity'' and would be ``a community decision.''

Serrano retorted, ``That's also the next civil war.''

by CNB