To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

Florida Governor DeSantis Signs Bill Requiring 'Moment of Silence' for School Prayer

Steve Warren : Jun 16, 2021  CBN News

"It's something that's important to be able to provide each student the ability, every day, to be able to reflect and to be able to pray as they see fit. The idea that you can just push God out of every institution, and be successful—I'm sorry, our founding fathers did not believe that." -Gov. Ron DeSantis

[CBN News] Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that would require at least one minute of silence, and possibly more, in public schools at the beginning of every day, so children can pray or meditate. (Screengrab image)

DeSantis signed HB 529 known as the "Moment of Silence in Public Schools" bill into law on Monday. Under the law, public-school principals will be required to direct first-period teachers to institute moments of silence, according to WFLA.com.

"It's something that's important to be able to provide each student the ability, every day, to be able to reflect and to be able to pray as they see fit," DeSantis said. "The idea that you can just push God out of every institution, and be successful—I'm sorry, our founding fathers did not believe that."

The governor added he was signing the measure to help protect religious freedom in the state.

The new law, which covers all K-12 public school classrooms, says teachers can't make suggestions to students about what they will reflect on during the moment of silence. But teachers should encourage parents to have that conversation with their children. It will go into effect on July 1.

Opponents said the measure promotes prayer in school.

State Sen. Lori Berman (D), who represents Palm Beach's District 31, questioned whether students could pull out a rosary, make the sign of the cross or use a prayer rug and wondered if that would make some students uncomfortable, WFLA.com reported. 

But State Sen. Jason Pizzo (D), who represents Miami-Dade's District 38, supported the legislation, saying students won't be required to pray during those moments set aside by schools.

"It's like a moment of meditation, relaxation, connection," he said.

The new law will make Florida one of at least 15 states that require moments of silence at public schools. The Sunshine State had already been among roughly 18 other states that gave schools the option to do so.

The governor made the announcement at The Shul of Bal Harbour, a Jewish community center, where he also promised to protect the Jewish community and touted his support for Israel.

DeSantis also signed another bill into law that allows some volunteer first responders, including those run by faith-based groups, to use emergency lights and sirens when responding to emergencies. Some Orthodox Jews rely on these volunteer ambulance services to help overcome religious sensitivities that prevent some people from using traditional emergency services.

It has been speculated that the governor, who is running for reelection next year, might run for president in 2024. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

The 'Audacious' Story of How Anti-Trafficking Organization, Born2Fly International Began: an Interview with Founder Diana Scimone

End of Realtor Commission Model Poses Biggest 'Jolt' in Housing in 100 Years

Finnish Study: 'Woke' People More Likely to be Unhappy, Anxious and Depressed.' No Kidding.

New Film 'Epidemic of Fraud' Exposes Massive COVID Corruption

Shameful Senator Schumer Provides Cover for Biden's Smears of Israel

REGIME MEDIA: ABC World News Tonight Advances the Bloodbath Hoax

Supreme Court Unanimously Rules That Public Officials Can Be Sued for Blocking Critics on Social Media

REPORT: Self-Proclaimed Hezbollah Terrorist Arrested at Border in Texas, Was Heading to New York to 'Make a Bomb'

Trudeau's Online Harms Bill Threatens Canadians' Basic Rights, Pro-freedom Group Warns

Fifth Circuit Court Upholds Texas Age-Verification Law Restricting Porn Site Access

Sickening: Kamala Harris Visits a Planned Parenthood Facility in Pro-Abortion Tour

Tennessee House Passes Bill Requiring Fetal Development Video in Public Schools

Led by Riley Gaines, 16 Women File Groundbreaking Suit against the NCAA: 'We Are Standing for Women's Sports'

Elon Musk, Matt Walsh Highlight Study Showing Transgender Surgeries Double Risk of Suicide

Boeing Whistleblower Who Died Suspiciously Said This to His Friend before His Death: 'If Anything Happens to Me, It's Not Suicide' (VIDEO)

Breitbart Exclusive—Donald Trump: Joe Biden Has Shown 'No Compassion' to Laken Riley's Family, Only Said Her Name Incorrectly after MTG Pressure

'Justice Denied': Judge Rules That Fani Willis Can Continue to Prosecute Donald Trump

West Point Removes 'Duty, Honor, Country' from Its Mission Statement

Ghana's Parliament Passes Anti-'LGBTQ' Law

NHS England: Children Will No Longer Receive Puberty Blockers Unless In Clinical Trials



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



BCN Plus

Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com