Community College Board Settles Suit Challenging Prayers At School Ceremonies

A settlement has been reached between the South Orange County (CA) Community College District and plaintiffs challenging the practice of opening various official college events with prayer.  The agreement in Westphal v. Wagner, (CD CA, March 31, 2011), calls for an end to prayers at scholarship ceremonies and Chancellor's Opening Session at the community colleges involved. However commencement ceremonies will continue to feature either a non-sectarian prayer or moment of silence. Mission Viejo Patch reports on the agreement reached by the Community College District with Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Last May, the court had denied a preliminary injunction against invocations at graduation, and that ruling was being appealed to the 9th Circuit. (See prior posting.) A trial on the request for a permanent injunction was scheduled to start today, but the settlement led to its cancellation. [corrected]