42.3%	Yes
57.69%	No

Comment: While I have great respect for both of these men and their conviction to stand by what they believe is right, I am concerned about the message that it sends to students. Parents and the community have rallied behind them in support of what they have done, but religious views asside, they are sending the message to children that it is alright to break the law as long as it is for something that you really believe strongly about. This creates a slippery slope in that teens may feel that breaking laws they don't agree with can be justified and that is the wrong message for school personel to send. from Pace, FL by Michelle

Comment: They didn't violate the court order, they weren't promoting religion. Why can those of other faiths pray at school functions? from pensacola by Freda

Comment: Is freedom of religion still a constitutional amendment? The US Constitution has become nothing more than toilet paper. Florida has the most twisted style of government in the South. from Pensacola by Scott

Comment: Americans need to stand up for these men and women. Parents of students need to pray and actively support them. ACLU has gone to far and it's time the majority let them know it. from Cantonment, Fl by David

Comment: Even without the signed court order, promoting prayer in public school violate laws separating of church &state. Lay, Freeman, & Winkler all knew they were breaking the law. If they put their religion above federal law and further ignored a specific court order, they should face legal consequences. They should also be removed from the public school system. from Pensacola FL by Sue

Comment: It is very upsetting that a person can't even decide to pray period.You ask why kids are so destructive in this NOW G? Take a good long look at our Country and what we now stand for/or don't stand for. from Pensacola/Florida by Barbara

Comment: Prayer should be allowed. It's the courts and the ACLU that are violation and guity taking away people's freedom. from Pensacola, FL by d

Comment: This law keeps religion out of schools because there are many students of different religions. How would be it taken if the principle asked someone to give a prayer of the Jewish faith, Muslin faith, or something much more obscure. The parents would be up in arms about forcing a heathen religion upon their children, yet they feel it is okay to force their religion one others children. from Fort Walton Beach, FL by Marcy

Comment: I absolutely do NOT think that the two officials violated and court order, why? Because it was a sponsered event that NO students attended. They were simply doing what they normally do at meals, at which most families in America do whether they believe in God or not. I applaud Principal Lay for standing up for what He believes in while doing it respectfully! from Pace by Ashley

Comment: I think we need to return to the principles of our Founding Fathers! from Pensacola FL by Roger

Comment: No I do not believe they violated the order from Crestview,Fla. by Inez

Comment: The courts are being bias. Walk through any school and you will see business advertisement. Whether you want to believe it or not religion is a business. There is a lot of money in that business. You can choose to listen to the ad or not just like any other advertisement. from Crestview by Damion

Comment: What a story, imagine if a 12th grader was warned he was breaking school rules, and then continued to do so. im sure the school would impose a punishment to teach that student the consequences of his actions. Lay and Freeman knew the rules, they have broken them and deserve to learn that there actions have consequences. If religion is more important than the law, maybe they should seek employment at a private christian school. They do not have the right under any religion to force their beliefs on others. from milton by ben

Comment: Prayer never has and never will be a religion. A prayer is to GOD and does not attempt to influence someone to follow, participate in, or belong to an organized religon. It's time Americans speak up for their rights and remove those people who advocate the removal of prayer in school. My prayers go out in supportof these men. from Elkville,Illinois by James

Comment: Yes, these men are employed by a school board, school officials and he himself who agreed to the the Court order. No one is above the law. It is hypocritical to agree to a court order and then disregard it. That is not what God preached through Jesus Christ. You will never find Jesus having done that. from Molino by Kathy

Comment: A principle or teacher should set an example for the children to obey the law, not break it. from Pensacola Fl. by Florence

Comment: Every major world religion has some kind of blessing prayed over meals. Since the ACLU and a few dissident voices now have overturned the majority rules mindset that made America a great nation, we can expect the judicial system to fall into step as they have in the past, bowing to the will of the ACLU. from Pensacola/FL by Jim

Comment: The issue that is before us is that of violating a court order. It is simple as that. One should be accountable for that violation. from milton, florida

Comment: u've got 2 b kidding....when u do something called conditioned response what is going 2 happen when an official or one of u guys hear someone sneeze and u say God bless u. my goodness what is this world coming 2. from milton by karen

Comment: since when has it become a crime to bless our food. i cant believe this is happening in america. however the aclu is a evil group setout to destroy anything decent in america. from pensacola,fl by odis

Comment: Would they have been fined had they bowed to Mecca everyday while on school property? from Navarre, FL by Stephanie

Comment: obey the law or get the law changed from pensacola\fla by roland

Comment: It should really be time for this debate to be set to rest, if the people involved were really 100% not offended then we should allow for the freedoms of speech as well as congrigating. All may not feel that God is important but to most he is our creator. Allowing peolpe to express their beliefs should never be hindered and those who do not agree should just not attend the venues placed by those approve. from Cantonment by Priscilla

Comment: No this was not a school event it was just a lunch .... no kids where there.. we have the right to say grace over food and this was not in violated of any court order. only people who are not christans are the ones pushing this GOD BLESS THEM ..... from pensacola/fla by denise

Comment: Whether you like the men, or whether you like the law, it is our law, and it is a good law. They broke it. from Pensacola, FL by Thomas

Comment: If I where the judge I would give the maxium penalty under the law for showing disrespect to my court. from milton/fl by david

Comment: this should be the main reason parents had issues with students watching the presdents speach, he always finishes with , god bless america. shouldnt these atheist object and correct the presiden also. from milton fl by beverly

Comment: Yes they did violate the court order. Failure to abide by the law only creates anarchy. They should be a better example to our children. Change the laws if you don't like them but defiance gets nowhere. from Pensacola, Florida by Barbara

Comment: Proselytizing? for being thankful for what you are about to receive? Judge Rogers is seeking to make an example of Mr. Lay. from Pensacola/ Fl by Mildred

Comment: The Constitution says their will be separation of church and state. These are public schools, not churches. from Gulf Breeze by Tes

Comment: Seperation of Church and State. Period! The State Government and local Commisioners start with an invocation that should be stopped too! from Pensacola by Robert

Comment: They both broke the law and should face the consequences! from Pace/Florida by Carol

Comment: Obama no longer incarcerates terriorists who bomb the US but we jail people for praying for the protection of our country!!!! from Robertsdale, AL by Margaret

Comment: Saying grace is NOT promoting religion. Frankly this is incredibly STUPID - wasting precious resources over garbage like this when we have schhols closing, educational programs being cancelled and good teachers losing their jjobs due to lack of funds. Shame on the ACLU and the petty people who instigated this trash. I don't believe in god and have no use for religion but, damn! this is just plain useless and moronic on all levels. from Navarre, FL by Mort

Comment: No promoting is "No" too everything dealing with God. And it is OK, to pray quietly, He could have ask the guests to lower their heads for a moment of quiet thankfulness, God would have been just as happy. Deaf folks do it all the time. from Crestview, FL by Michael

Comment: How is praying promoting religion? You can't force someone to pray. It's an inner spiritual part of who you are . . . and what about MY right to pray? from Pace, FL by Angela

Comment: He was only living his life as he does every day. from Milton,Fl. by Edwina

Comment: I find it hypocritical for Lay and his admisistration to pass harsh judgement and punishment on students who don't follow his rules yet they set a poor example by not following rules themselves. While I respect everyone's right to personal freedome & religion, this seems like a case of "it's ok to bend the rules so long as it matches with my personal beliefs". Good values should absolutely be taught to our children but if we are going to pray it should be for our leaders to teach the value of diversity and respect for all religions and not impose our own beliefs and practices on others while in a public role. from Gulf Breeze by Concerned

Comment: Everyone has the right of freedom of speech...unless you want to give God the glory then it is unlawful. from Pensacola FL by Deanah

Comment: No! The blessing was just that, a blessing, NOT a Prayer. The Judge in this case has overstepped bounds by mis-interpreting this. The EGO of the Judge is so far out on the sleeve as to paint a picture of a personal vendetta in action. What is wrong with this is that the system is BROKE. Get off the backs of people who are practising their RIGHT of self expression - The Judge cannot see the trees for the forest. The difference between God and a Federal Judge is that God does not believe he is a Federal Judge. from Pensacola by Jon

Comment: I believe this Country was founded on Prayer, and this is an absolute disgrace that a U.S. Citizen can be sent to prison and loose their retirement simply because they say a prayer in the United States of America. As a tax payer I feel we should have rights for prayers to be said in our schools. I find this unbelievable that our Country has become this type of COUNTRY to live in. Our forefathers would be ashamed of us and would not beleive that they fought and died for a Country that would harm a U.S. Citizen for a simple prayer.SHAME ON THE PEOPLE WHO HAS BROUGHT THESE CHARGES, MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON THEM. from Baker,Fl by Lucille

Comment: WE cant pick and choose which court order to ignore. Nor which law we can pick and choose to abide by. Should be common sense for Principal Lay who is supposed to be educated. But in my opinion he had a higher calling....no not God, INBRED PEER PRESSURE FROM THE ONES HIDING BENEATH EDUCATION. But look at the publicity. Thats what it is all about. God isnt on the Supreme Court so dont use God as an excuse. People dont understand. You do have freedom of religion..as well as Freedom From it...its called CHOICE and not rammed down your throat by so called educators. Dont use the school to be the mask to hide the real agenda. from Pensacola,FL by Flower

Comment: I belive they were doing only what we have been taught .Thanking our Lord and Savior for what he has given us. from Milton,Florida by Jacquelyn

Comment: I think the Federal Courts and the communist ACLU have lost their minds. This country was founded on religion and a lot of praying and thanking God. I will pray anytime I want to and I don't care where I am. The Federal Courts and ACLU demons have twisted and under minded the U.S. Constitution to meet their anti God agenda. from Pensacola by Michelle

Comment: It is totally hypocritical for Lay and Freeman to expect students to obey rules set by the school when the can't okay rules set by the courts. I thought we were supposed to be a nation of laws, not a theocracy. all those who sound as if they want a theocracy better look at Iran and other countries that are forcing religion on its people. Remember, most of the early white settlers in this country were religious dissidents. Unfortunately, many became more intolerant than what they left. Please remember, a theocracy is the most repressive form of government, because any dissent is considered an affront to God, therefore, must be punished with all the force known to man. from Pensacola, FL by Ray

Comment: yes they did! no doubt about it. besides they themselves admit they do not answer to mans laws but to the laws of the higher being...in other words...they do whatever they want to do and justifying it by saying it was "gods" intention... from p'cola fl by h

Comment: Yes, the Pace HS administrators by their positions are Fascist-Christians. They must be fined and jailed. They are forcing by their positons evil, sick religion on underage, naeve students. from Bluewater Bay, FL by Bruce

Comment: We all have the freedom to express ourselves, but soon, we may not. The government, especially judges should not be stealing our right to freedom of speech. May God help us if they rule against our freedom of speech. from Pensacola, FL by Kurt

Comment: Yes they both violated a court order. The students need to see that there are consequences for not following a court order and following the law. from Pensacola, Fl by Bryan

Comment: ACLU should be out-lawed this country is a Christian Nation no matter what Mr. Obama says. When I went to school we had Bible in the mornings and we prayed. Our country was a safe place to live when we recognized God as Supreme - today the land is full of violence. The Pace School Officials should never have been charged and should be set free immediately. from Pensacola,Fl by Lela

Comment: I am a great believer in the law of the land and wether you agree with a court order or not it still is against the law to go against an order handed down by a judge. If we start picking and choosing which law's we like or don't like the system would soon fall apart. They broke the law and should be held accountable! from pensacola , florida by paul

Comment: Yes, or they would not be going to court. Its a shame certain educators use schOol for a PERSONAL AGENDA. There are laws for a reason guys. Beliefs are ok but cant be pushed on people and feeel there was nothing wrong. The other schools dont have this problem.This is pure lime lighting by these educators and its personal agendas being pushed and beliefs.The law is the law. You cant pick and choose which to abide by. from Pensacola,Fl by Will

Comment: There was a Federal Court Court Order which the defendents signed not to promote religion at School functions. from Navarre, fl. by C J

Comment: Shame on America! from Pensacola by Britney

Comment: In my opinion, we have become a nation of "agnostics", not "atheists". That said, even agnostics believe in GOD, or a least a SUPREME BEING. If that is the case, and with the fact that our country was founded on the principles set forth in the Bill of Rights to the Constitution, just what is wrong with proliferating the concept of religion in the minds of our children. Oops, there we have the problem: parents are too busy to take time to "teach" their children, and teachers are afraid that by teaching the kids parents are going to be upset. But the bottom line is that letting kids pray to God HARMS NOBODY. from Mary Esther, FL. by Tom

Comment: If prayers from a non-Christian religion had been offered up instead, the reaction surely would have been different.

Comment: They should not have done what they did. They were warned not to, and still did it. If you break the law, you pay the price. No one should be exempt. from Milton, FL by Jerrold

Comment: It's sad when you can't bless the food without someone yelling "That's against the law" This makes me sooo sad as a parent. from Brewton, Al. by Stephanie

Comment: Pace High Class of 1983 from milton fl by William

Comment: We recite the pledge that states we are One Nation Under God,and we handle money each day that states In God We Trust. There was nothing wrong with praying. from Crestview,FL by Shirley

Comment: We ask students to obey rules and laws; teachers and administrators should be examples. No one should feel the pressure of a religion or even the pressure of one denomination in a public setting.

Comment: prayer need's to stay in all the schools. This country was found under one god and prayer from pensacola florida by kevin

Comment: I cant belive this. What dose the government do say a prayer before they do somthing but we are teaching our kids that it is wrong. If any one had any sence you would see that america started going to hell in a hand bag when we stopped praying in school. even this servay is fixed. It should be should they even be charged with anything. This is a two face nation now the ones that can pray and the ones trying to stop others from praying two face from Pensacola by David

Comment: I think the discord we are seeing here, caused by religion, is the reason the founding fathers tried to keep it out of our government. If our system of government falls, it will be because of the actions of those who are claiming their religious rights. The history of religion is the reason it was prohibited. These guys will keep pushing it until someone tells them enough. They apparently are not happy just practicing it in their own time. from Navarre by Pete

Comment: They know the rules and had agreed to follow the court order. from Milton FL by George

Comment: I think the court order is bogus.Who are the idiots here? Those praying to a God they cannot see or those who resent them praying although they dont believe in the existence of that God?? from Pace by james

Comment: It is absolutely ridiculous that these men, both who have given their entire lives to educating our children in a respectful manner, are being criminally charged for saying grace before a meal that was an adult function! No students were invited to the function! Why is it okay for the President of the United States able to say "God Bless You and God Bless America" to the entire student population of the United States??? Something is wrong with this picture. The media needs to tell the entire story. This was not a school function with students sitting down for a meal, it was a booster event, for goodness sake. from Pace, FL by Cindy

Comment: So as of now 56% of the people think it is alright to break the law if they think it's what they belive in.Wonder how that would work out for me? Send the bible thumpers to jail or fine them as i would be. from cantonment by ronald

Comment: I don't believe blessing the meal before eating is promoting any religion. It is done by many, and I am upset that it would cause them to take the school leaders to court. What next? Are they going to go after those of us that pray before our meal in a restaruant? ? ? from Niceville, FL by Scotta

Comment: OUTLAW ACLU- from Pensacola,FL by Lela

Comment: I agree with the pastor of Olive Baptist Church, who pointed out that if the school officials violated a court order by praying at a school function, then so did President Obama, who concluded his speech to schools all over America by praying that God would "bless America." We need to file suit against the ACLU for trying to impose the religion of atheism on everyone who believes in any kind of God. from Daphne, AL by Lester

Comment: I believe something needs to be done to the ACLU. I don't understand how or why they seem to win at everything they believe or don't believe in. People should be able to say a blessing before they eat if they want to. from Cantonment, FL by Page

Comment: we need pray in our schools from fwb fl by tony

Comment: I think they did no wrong,I believe in praying over my food no matter where and who I'm with.The lord will punish the ones that messes with his believers.Prayer is very powerful. from pensacola by Thomas

Comment: This country was built on Biblical standards. No prayer, now guns & killings in schools. God bless the two from Pace.. from Gulf Breeze, FL by Norma

Comment: Saying Grace over Lunch is not concided proselyizing. from Milton, Florida by Rev. Rickey

Comment: I think it is a freedom of speech right to say what you want where and when you want. I don't agree with this or the not saying the pledge of allegiance in our schools. from niceville fl by melissa

Comment: I will stand up for our right to pray because this wa given to us by our forefathers who beleive in God and pray and base our constitution on the bible. We must fight for our right to freedom of speech and I give these fellows all my blessings for stepping forward and making waves. Let the waves sweep the nation and let use return to our grass roots of our forefathers. God Bless America xnxtm64 from Pensacola by loretta

Comment: The Judge has her own agenda! from Pace, FL by Vickie