Administration emails indicate that Gov. Steve Beshear's Administration is advising school districts to cease prayer during public functions. An email from the Kentucky Department of Education (attached) to the Bell County School District says that praying before a football game is unconstitutional and the district should "cease this activity immediately." The advice was given to the Bell County school district after a liberal, out-of-state group threatened to sue the school over the tradition of praying before high school football games. (see article below for background).
"It is a travesty that Governor Beshear will not stand up for freedom of religion in Kentucky, and instead sides with an organization called "Freedom From Religion Foundation.' I call on Gov. Beshear to denounce this attack on prayer at public functions and lead the efforts of state government to defend our citizens' right to voluntarily pray anywhere they choose," Senate President David Williams said.
The Republican candidate for governor added: "Steve Beshear has a troubling history of failing to protect our precious freedom of religion. As Attorney General, he ruled that posting the 10 Commandments in classrooms was unconstitutional. As Governor, he decided to call the state's Christmas tree a "holiday tree.' And now his administration has advised the Bell County school system to end the tradition of praying before football games. This pattern of failing to protect our freedom of religion is troubling to me and I am sure most Kentuckians."