Blog from the Capital

Well, if it's not a record it should be. This time, Catholic parents are suing after a faculty member gave a Christian invocation at the graduation ceremony for PM High School in Tammany.

At the ceremony, [the plaintiff] John "P" received a program that specified a student would deliver the invocation.

Instead, Anthony Massi, a faculty member at PM High School gave a prayer that began with "Lord we thank you for ... " and ended with "We pray for these things in Jesus' name, Amen," the suit states.

A number of faculty members and administrators were present for the ceremony, including principal Dale Brouilette and recently-elected board member Ann Smith, who "condoned, approved of, participated and acquiesced in the giving of the invocation" by Massi, according to the suit.

John "P," who is Catholic, found the invocation "offensive and objectionable" because it served to advance only one faith or belief: Christianity, the suit claims.

Last month, the district was sued after Gideon Bibles were passed out to students in front of a school office during the school day. Also, last month the 5th Circuit heard an appeal in the case involving sectarian prayer at school board meetings in Tangipahoa (which I've now learned to spell without looking up!).