School cancels 70-year-old tradition of singing 'The Lord's Prayer' after atheist group raises complaint

A high school in Ohio has stopped its 70-year-old tradition of singing "The Lord's Prayer" during graduation after a group of atheists complained that it promotes religion.

The East Liverpool High School in East Liverpool, Ohio, has decided to ban the song during graduation after receiving a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), which told the school that the singing of the song violates the law and requested that no religious song be performed in future ceremonies.

Choir director Lisa Ensinger appealed to the city school board to allow the song to be performed. She remembered singing the song at her own graduation, according to the Morning Journal News.

When asked what would happen if she was told that her students could no longer sing it, she said, "I said, 'That's the day I resign,' and now it's happened and my heart is broken."

"I hate to see that go. When we stop having traditions what do we have left?" she asked.

Ensinger told the board that one of her students who is an atheist wants to sing the song.

"My students are devastated," she told the board.

But school board president Larry Walton said it could cost thousands in dollars in litigation costs.

"The Supreme Court says we can't do it," he said, adding that other districts have tried to fight it and it cost them more than $850,000.

"I'm not going to risk this school by trying to fight the Supreme Court. I'm as sorry as you are," he said, adding that since the Supreme Court decision, the district allowed the "Lord's Prayer" to be sung and "just didn't get caught."

Board member Richard Wolf said, "I don't know when we voted on this. Did we vote on this? If it's student initiated, it's like prayer at the flag pole. If those people want to institute a lawsuit, let them."