Mother now praying silently on Concord High campus

[SecularMotion]

Lizarda Urena has resumed her morning trips to Concord High School to pray for the safety of the students, but she is now praying in silence after school officials told her this summer she would have to stop.

Urena, the mother of two students, returned to campus last week and has been signing in as a visitor and staying for 10 to 15 minutes every morning, said David Bates, a former state representative from Windham who has championed Urena’s right to pray on campus. Last Tuesday, Bates went with Urena to the school, where the two signed in at the main office and then went to the “outdoor classroom” at the school’s front entrance where they prayed in silence. Urena did not return a request for comment yesterday.

Her daily prayers to protect the school began in February after bullets were found in a school toilet. Urena stood on the top of the steps outside the school’s auditorium and recited Bible verses as students walked into school, but she did not engage directly with students.

Her praying got to a point where it could have looked like the school was promoting a specific religion, Superintendent Chris Rath explained to the school board last week. In July, high school Principal Gene Connolly met with Urena and said she couldn’t pray on campus this fall.

http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8432628-95/mother-now-praying-silently-on-concord-high-campus

[cbayer]

1. Sounds like they are trying to negotiate a reasonable solution without much rancor.

Honestly, I don't think she has any business there, but if it's silent I can't see how it could cross the line.

[rocktivity]

2. Since she's not a student, and since she's not actually visiting anyone

the proper solution is to have her pray silently outside the school in the mornings as the students entered.


rocktivity

[tanyev]

3. She's never read the 6th chapter of Matthew?

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

[longship]

5. Yeah! But that's just what Jesus said.

According to Matthew... Or is that from Q?

Q

[Warpy]

6. That's what should be read to her

and I have no problem with anybody praying silently. That's how it's supposed to be done, after all.

It's the narcissistic jerks who think the rest of us need to be led in prayer everywhere and at any time I object to. They need to keep their public praying in church where attendees are voluntary.

[xfundy]

7. Yea, verily.

[bravenak]

4. She should have been silent in the first place. Some people don't want her indoctrinating their kids

Nobody would have noticed if she hadn't made a big production of it in the first place. I never did understand people who need an audience while praying. Just like people who talk on their cell phones super duper loud in public. Shhhhh. Allow me to mind my own business please, thx.
Another thing, can't she just pray at home and transfer her prayers to the school? I have family who pray for me from across the country.

[Marrah_G]

8. I bet her kids are so embarrassed