A prayer mourning the prohibition of public prayer

In mid-April, Canada's activist liberal Supreme Court decided to emulate its American counterpart by ruling, once and for all, that although a nation may be "under God", it's a violation of some people's "human rights" to invoke His help and mercy in public, as, for instance, at the opening of a meeting of a municipal council.

The court ruled on April 15th that the mayor and council of Saguenay QC must stop praying before meetings. And -- get this -- they must pay compensatory and punitive damages of C$30,000 (nearly $25,000 in real money) to an atheist who complained of discrimination!

Alain Simoneau had complained to the Québec Human Rights Tribunal of discrimination because the Saguenay mayor and council pray before their official meetings. The tribunal ruled he had been discriminated against and ordered the mayor and council to pay damages. Saguenay Mayor Jean Tremblay, a devout Catholic, began soliciting funds to fight for the right to pray at council meetings and appealed the tribunal ruling to the Québec Court of Appeal, which overturned it. The Supreme Court of Canada reinstated the tribunal's judgment and ordered the payment of the original fine plus interest.

Mr. Justice Clement Gascon (who probably describes himself as a Catholic) wrote, "The prayer recited by the municipal council in breach of the state's duty of neutrality resulted in a distinction, exclusion, and preference based on religion -- that is, based on Mr. Simoneau's atheism -- which, in combination with the circumstances in which the prayer was recited, turned the meetings into a preferential space for people with theistic beliefs."

"People with theistic beliefs", eh... Like Mayor Tremblay. Like Walt [and Poor Len and Ed.! Ed.] And, Walt is sure, like the anonymous 15-year-old Minnesotan who (according to Agent 6, to whom be thanks) wrote the following New School Prayer, to be said in the place of the now-prohibited "Lord's Prayer" (or "Our Father", as we Catholics call it).

Now I sit me down in school

Where praying is against the rule

For this great nation under God

Finds mention of Him very odd.

If scripture now the class recites,

It violates the Bill of Rights.

And any time my head I bow

Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,

That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.

The law is specific, and precise;

Prayers spoken aloud are serious vice.

For praying in a public hall

Might offend someone with no faith at all.

In silence alone we must meditate;

God's name is prohibited by the State.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,

And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.

They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.

To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,

And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.

It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,

We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,

Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles,

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,

No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,

When chaos reigns the school's a mess.

So, Lord, this silent plea I make:

Should I be shot, my soul please take!

AMEN!