I want to extend my sincerest regrets to the Schultz family for having their once-in-a-lifetime graduation from high school ruined by the Medina Valley High School administration, by many in the student body, and by opportunists who exploited an appalling situation for their own political advantage. If school administrators had stood up to protect their rights as much as those of Angela Hildenbrand, the family's “big day” would have been as celebratory as that of the other graduates.

Instead, members of the Schultz family suffered the pain of exclusion, censure, ostracism, and vicious verbal attacks. This event has opened a badly needed discussion regarding the Constitution and the First Amendment. I thank the Schultz family for standing up for what it means to be an American.

The Founders of our country intentionally created a secular Constitution. Nowhere in the Constitution is there mention of a God, or Christianity, or Jesus Christ. The only places religion is mentioned are Article VI, which prohibits “religious tests” for public office and the First Amendment, which bars laws “respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Many Founders were religious themselves. They created a secular government because they had seen the dangers of church-state unions in Europe and the colonies. Many colonies had provisions limiting public office to “Trinitarian Protestants” and other laws to prop up the religious sentiments of the politically powerful. Some colonies taxed citizens to support officially established churches whether they were members or not. Dissenters faced imprisonment, torture and even death.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State brought the lawsuit because of the Medina district's plans to include official prayer during its June 4 graduation ceremony. Medina Valley High School is a public institution thus a government institution.

“Public schools can't require students to take part in religious worship as the price of attending their graduation,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United.

Today, the United States has a well-deserved reputation as a beacon for religious liberty around the world. Throughout our history, immigrants have come to our shores seeking the right to worship or not worship as they saw fit. Our nation's policy of separation of church and state has ensured religious freedom and made our country a model for others to follow.

Yet, at Medina Valley High School, this fundamental principle of keeping government out of religion and religion out of government seems to have been lost.

Remove the so-called “wall” that keeps state separate from religion and it won't be long before hatred, persecutions, and even killings based on religious or non-religious affiliation would begin.

Religious freedom is one of America's greatest legacies. We must ensure that our children and grandchildren enjoy it as well.

Eric Lane is president of the San Antonio chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.