James urges students to halt prayer demonstrations
MONTGOMERY (AP) — Gov. Fob James, who has vehemently defended the role of Christianity in schools and government, urged students Friday to end walkouts protesting a judge's decision against school prayer.
Moving away from a previous comment that he might defy the school prayer decision, James also said Friday that prayer should not be used for protest.
James, in a statement released by his press office, said any disruption of class or other school activities because of the prayer issue was improper.
"Students should attend class in the future with the understanding that I will continue to pursue the case by every legal and political means possible, including some measures I will announce in the days ahead," James said.
More than 60 students in northeast Alabama were suspended this week after leaving class to publicly pray in defiance of last week's federal court order restricting the practice of religion in public schools.
James, an evangelical Christian, himself has talked of defying court orders limiting the practice of Christianity in the public sector.
The governor has threatened to call out the National guard in defense of a Ten Commandments plaque in an Etowah County courtroom if the Alabama Supreme Court upholds a lower court order requiring removal of the symbol.
At a news conference Tuesday, where James criticized U.S. District Judge Ira DeMent's order limiting school-sanctioned religious practices, he was asked, "Will you go into schools and pray ... at an assembly where you are invited?"
James replied, I'd have no qualms about that at all."
In his statement Friday, however, James said he "would not use prayer as a form of protest."
"I believe prayer should be directed to God and not to men, but prayer to God out of sincerity of heart should be respected at any time," James said.
Birmingham Post-Herald, Saturday November 8, 1997
Educator who filed prayer suit now town pariah
By Jay Reeves
Associated Press writerVALLEY HEAD — Students wearing their Christian bracelets don't have much to say to assistant principal Michael Chandler anymore. Once-friendly adults turn away when he passes or mutter his name in disgust.
And he has quit driving his Corvette to school.
"I'm afraid somebody will put keys down the side of it," said Chandler.
The 47-year-old educator has become a target of scorn for filing the lawsuit that resulted in last week's federal court order restricting prayer in Alabama's public schools, where many youngsters wear cloth bracelets with the letters "WWJD" — for "What Would Jesus Do?"
Chandler, who has worked for the DeKalb County school system for 25 years, said he has received support privately from many county educators and some parents. And the town's Baptist preacher, Charles Jenkins, said the ruling may help by spelling out what is and isn't allowed.
But Chandler has virtually no public backing, and newspapers all over the state have been filled with letters from readers who quote the Bible criticizing him.
"I have been demonized," he said.
Rhonda Weathers said the ruling "stinks," and she doesn't even like Chandler being around her first-grade daughter Jessica at Valley Head School.
"He doesn't believe there's a God," she said, echoing the feelings of many of the 629 people of this mountain town in Alabama's northeastern corner.
Chandler — who lives with his Methodist wife and 14-year old son in Fyffe, about 30 miles away — denies he is an atheist. He was raised Baptist and occasionally goes to church....
Birmingham Post-Herald, Saturday November 8, 1997
Poll backs Fob on Prayer
Survey of Alabamians finds overwhelming opposition to federal judge's ruling
By Buster Kantrow
Staff ReporterWhen it comes to prayer, the Constitution may not be on Gov. Fob James' side, but Alabama is.
Despite a federal judge's ruling that the Constitution doesn't allow it, an overwhelming majority of Alabamians polled last week believe prayer and religion should be promoted at school — in the classroom, on the football field and during graduation exercises. The findings come from the latest statewide Mobile Register/University of South Alabama poll.
A majority of the 403-person sample say they would support James should he follow through on vows to disobey U.S. District Judge Ira DeMent's ruling last week. The ruling strictly limits organized prayer in Alabama schools.
"The judge has gone against us and what we hold dear," said Janet Lynch, the chairwoman of the Christian Coalition of Mobile. The group is exploring a challenge to DeMent's decision, she said.
"I believe we've got enough people in Alabama who feel prayer is the right thing to do that we should be allowed to do it," Mrs. Lynch said. "If it came to a vote, he would lose."
The poll results are not surprising — or convincing — said Rev. Barry W. Lynn, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
Religion and government is an issue in which the majority simply doesn't win, Lynn said....
The Mobile Register, Sunday November 9, 1997
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