Policeman Threatens Arrest For Prayer At Supreme Court

From Newsmax.com:

Cop Threatens Arrest for Praying Near Supreme Court




Talk about separating church and state — a small-town schoolteacher was threatened with arrest for praying on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court building.



According to Nathan Kellum, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, teacher Maureen Rigo and her class from Wickenburg Christian Academy in Wickenburg, Ariz., visited the Supreme Court in May. While standing on the court steps, the group began to pray quietly.



A Supreme Court police officer interrupted them, told the group they could not pray there, and guided them toward the street.



When Rigo later contacted the Supreme Court headquarters, a sergeant said her actions were “definitely contrary to the law,” and added: “The police officer acted correctly, forcing you to leave under threat of arrest because you violated federal statute.”



An official statement issued by a court spokeswoman said that groups engaged in activities that may draw onlookers are illegal. But Patricia McCabe Estrada, deputy public information officer for the court, told CNSNews.com: “The Court does not have a policy prohibiting prayer.”



Kellum told CNSNews that while the law’s intent appears to be focused on protests at the court building, the application of the law could be seen as banning public prayer. The Alliance Defense Fund sent a letter to court officials asking for assurances that Rigo and her students will be permitted to pray on court grounds during their next visit.



Said Kellum: “Evidently, people may engage in all sorts of conversational expression on Supreme Court grounds — unless that expression happens to involve prayer