Rebecca Klein at HuffPo seems to be surprised that a conservative religious group is making outrageously ridiculous claims. Rebecca would be rather ignorant when it comes to issues of church and state, as well as the mind-set of the religious right. "Kentucky School Prayer Petition Links Prayer Ban With AIDS Epidemic" is, unfortunately, rather standard fare for the religious right. The bogus claim cited in the title of her piece isn't nearly as disturbing as her own ignorance and constant repetition of an equally bogus claim. Klein refers to a "ban" on school prayer throughout her short piece. There is no such ban!
Children are free to pray in school so long as it is not disruptive. As I have repeatedly pointed out on previous posts, what is not allowed is coercive prayer. The school itself (including all its employees and representatives) can not conduct or enforce prayers. So, yes, it is annoying to hear nutbags going on about a connection between a lack of coercion leading to AIDS and various other social problems. That is not as bad as otherwise rational people falling for and then continuing to disseminate misinformation. This type of crap only serves to weaken one of nation's greatest principles, Separation of Church and State.
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