Mandatory prayer or a voluntary gathering?

it’s a hot button issue across the country. and here in southern colorado it’s taking center stage… a civil lawsuit. we were first to tell you about it last night. the suit involves florence high school. it alleges a teacher was discriminated against because he’s jewish. krdo newschannel 13’s greg miller is live with all sides of the case. james, heather the 60-page lawsuit says teachers and students had a religious agenda, pushing an evangelical belief system on to everyone… including mandatory prayer service but the church members involved saythey did nothing illegal or wrong. mandatory prayer… basewitz int 2:06 There were massive prayer ceremonies attended by the administration. or a voluntary gathering? greg phoner 10:45: Not only is there no resistance, but there’s tremendous support. robert basevitz was hired as a special education teacher at florence high school last year… but says he is disturbed by routine evangelical prayer gatherings… which in his words, were promoted by the school. his attorney paul maxon basewitz int 3:37 Public schools are not supposed to be in the business of promoting the administration’s personal beliefs. Int he lawsuit, Basevit’s attorney says the events created an atmosphere of discrimination. The school district wouldn’t return our request for comment, but the group behind the services says nothing like that exists here. the cowboy church at crossroads began leading teen programs at the school three years ago… the church isn’t named in the suit… and it’s leader is out of state on vacation. greg phoner 6:10 We just did a variety of things on Wednesdays. You didn’t have to stay, you were welcome to get a pizza, you could take a devotional or not take it. but maxon says when his client, who’s jewish, brought his concerns forward … he was punished … demoted to an elementary school teaching position. basewitz 3:51 He was very quickly shown the door when he made a complaint about this. church leaders say they don’t intimidate or discriminate, citing a nondemonitional faith. greg phoner 7:18 It’s a group session. It’s a club. It’s not a service. legal experts i talked to say prayer gatherings ‘are’ allowed inside schools …but can’t be sponsored by a particular group under federal law. gm, nc 13.