Pastors rally in support of student prayer bill
ATLANTA - A group of pastors and other faithful rallied at the state capitol Monday in support of a student-led prayer bill.
App users: Click here to watch Twitter video
App users: Click here to watch video report
House Bill 816 would force schools to allow students to pray before, during and after school as well as at some school activities like pep rallies and football games.
"There is a misconception of--isn't this already allowed? And the reality is it is up to discretion of the leaders of that school," said Rep. Billy Mitchell, D-Stone Mountain, who is the bill's main sponsor. "What this will do is codify--actually put into law what and when this can be done."
With three Republican co-sponsors, Mitchell said the bill has more wide spread support than many other religious freedom efforts.
He plans, however, to make one change to the proposed law. The portion requiring that schools allow prayer at graduation will be removed, Mitchell said, because legislative counsel fears it could lead to legal problems. That is because many schools require students to attend graduation ceremonies.
"So where they are compelled to attend, to have prayer might be an infringement on their rights," explained Rep. Mitchell. "So, we are removing that piece from the bill."
The bill is currently under review by the House Judiciary Committee.