Abington+School+District+vs.+Schempp

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 * [[image:Abington School District vs. Schempp.jpg width="432" height="254"]] || ==**Abington School District vs. Schempp**==

Pennsylvania state law required that "at least ten verses from the Holy Bible shall be read, without comment, at the opening of each public school on each school day." Two families sued, claiming this violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. By a vote of 8-1, the Court held that state-sponsored devotional Bible readings in public schools constitute an impermissible religious exercise by government. The Court found that state-sponsored devotional exercises violate the Establishment Clause. The Constitutional defects are not corrected by allowing an opt-out provision. The Establishment Clause constrains government from involving itself in religious matters. Therefore, government action that promotes or inhibits religion violates the Constitution. The state may not draft or conduct religious prayers in schools filled with captive audiences of children. ||
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