A federal court decides to do irreparable harm to graduates

A federal appeals court has lifted a ban on public prayer during a graduation at a San Antonio high school.

The ruling reverses a decision of a lower court that imposed the ban after an agnostic family, Christa and Danny Schultz, sued the school district.

The Schultzes claiming traditions at graduation, including the invocation and benediction, excluded their beliefs and violated their constitutional rights. Watching their son receive his diploma would amount to forced religious participation.

A federal judge agreed and banned public prayer at the graduation on Tuesday.

But Medina Valley High School valedictorian Angela Hildenbrand refused to give up, insisting her free speech rights would be violated if she wasn't allowed to thank God in her graduation speech.